Magnetic Resonance Elastography as a Prognostic Tool for Surgical Outcomes in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Motivation: Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a treatable cause of dementia. The treatment with ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery can lead to sustained improvement in about 80% of cases. However, due to the invasive nature of surgery, improving the predictability of outcomes is imperative. Goal(s): To assess magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) as a non-invasive tool to predict surgical outcomes in NPH. Approach: Pre-surgical stiffness and damping ratio pattern scores were used as features to train classification models that predict clinical improvement following shunt placement. Results: MRE is a promising noninvasive tool for prediction of surgical outcomes in normal pressure hydrocephalus. Impact: MRE demonstrates promise as a prognostic tool for prediction of surgical outcomes in NPH. If successfully translated to clinic, this would provide patients with non-invasive alternative.