Intraventricular temperature measured by diffusion-weighted imaging compared with brain parenchymal temperature measured by MRS in vivo.

We examined and compared the temperatures of the intraventricular cerebrospinal fluid (Tv ) and the brain parenchyma (Tp ) using MRI, with reference to the tympanic membrane temperature (Tt ) in healthy subjects. We estimated Tv and Tp values from data gathered simultaneously by MR diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and MRS, respectively, in 35 healthy volunteers (17 males, 18 females; age 25-78 years). We also obtained Tt values just before each MR examination to evaluate the relationships among the three temperatures. There were significant positive correlations between Tv and Tp (R = 0.611, p < 0.001). The correlation was also significant after correction for Tt (R = 0.642, p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between Tv and Tt or between Tp and Tt in the men or the women. Negative correlations were found between Tv and age and between Tp and age in the males but not females. DWI thermometry seems to reflect the intracranial environment as accurately as MRS thermometry. An age-dependent decline in temperature was evident in our male subjects by both DWI and MRS thermometry, probably due to the decrease in cerebral metabolism with age.