Washington University in St. Louis (WU)
Several common pediatric neurosurgical conditions are related to the dysregulation of CSF circulation contributing to devastating clinical manifestations and poor quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests an interrelationship between the disruption of proper physiological CSF flow and neurologic pathology. Exploring the mechanisms behind the influence of CSF dysregulation and pathophysiology of neurological conditions could lead to crucial advancements in therapeutic targets. While other studies have begun to assess the relationship between CSF-mediated pathophysiology in other neurological diseases, few have focused on CM and hydrocephalus, and none noted to date have investigated comparing CSF dysregulation within the brain systematically in children afflicted with CM and hydrocephalus to the CSF flow of healthy children. The objective is to provide a more comprehensive mapping of CSF circulation and regulation using recently developed non-invasive MR diagnostic techniques to help better understand the associations between diagnosis, pathology and clinical manifestations of CM and hydrocephalus.