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Progress in the application of four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging in the central nervous system
YANG Chunxiang  LU Ji  ZHOU Heng  JIANG Tao 

Cite this article as: YANG C X, LU J, ZHOU H, et al. Progress in the application of four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging in the central nervous system[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2026, 17(4): 121-127. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.04.017.


[Abstract] The blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid circulation in the central nervous system (CNS) are the foundation for maintaining the normal function and structure of brain tissue. With the continuous increase in the burden of cerebrovascular diseases, the importance of fluid dynamics assessment in the diagnosis and treatment of CNS diseases is increasing. Four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D Flow MRI), as an emerging non-invasive quantitative imaging technique in vivo, can obtain comprehensive three-dimensional spatiotemporal hemodynamic information and has a wide range of research scenarios and huge application potential in the CNS. This article systematically reviews the technological development of 4D Flow MRI and its current clinical application status in the CNS. It points out the limitations of current research and indicates the direction for future studies, providing references for the optimization of clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies and related research.
[Keywords] four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging；central nervous system；hemodynamics；cerebrospinal fluid；magnetic resonance imaging

YANG Chunxiang1, 2   LU Ji1, 2*   ZHOU Heng1, 2   JIANG Tao1, 2  

1 The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443000, China

2 Department of Radiology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang 443000, China

Corresponding author: LU J, E-mail: 15926951408@163.com

Conflicts of interest   None.

Received  2025-12-19
Accepted  2026-03-09
DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.04.017
Cite this article as: YANG C X, LU J, ZHOU H, et al. Progress in the application of four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging in the central nervous system[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2026, 17(4): 121-127. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2026.04.017.

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