Intracranial Magnetic Resonance Venography of Superior Sagittal Sinus, Straight Sinus and Cerebral Venous Channels: Normal Anatomy and Variations in North Indian Population

ABSTRACT

The intracranial dural venous sinuses can be injured leading to thrombosis with in the dural sinuses causing headache, abnormal vision, weakness of the face and limbs on one side of the body, and seizures.Magne?c Resonance Venography (MRV) is one of the preferred methods of evalua?on of the cerebral venous sinus anatomy, varia?ons and pathology, par?cularly in the diagnosisof venous sinus thrombosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of MRV to depict the normal intracranial venous anatomy and its variants in North Indian popula?on which can help to avoid poten?al pi?alls in the diagnosis of dural venous sinus thrombosis, venous infarcts and venous hemorrhage. Aim:The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of MRV to depict the normal intracranial venous anatomy and its variants in North Indian popula?on, which can help to avoid poten?al pi?alls in the diagnosis of dural venous sinus thrombosis, venous infarcts and venous hemorrhage. MaterialsThe present study was undertaken in the Departments of Anatomy and Radiodiagnosis at a North Indian ter?ary care teaching hospital over a period of two years. Magne?c Resonance Venograms (MRV) of pa?ents a?ending the radiology department were used to study the normal anatomy and varia?ons in the dural venous sinuses. 50 MRV scans of which 26 were of females and 24 of male, were included in the study. Anatomical varia?ons and varia?ons in drainage of the dural venous sinuses were assessed and sta?s?cal analysis was done. Results:For both superior sagi?al sinus drainage and straight sinus drainage, the propor?on of veins draining in right and le? transverse sinuses and confluence of sinuses was significantly different in the two age groups (p<0.001) in both males and females. Par?al spli?ng of superior sagi?al sinus in anterior one third or posterior one third was also seen. Sta?s?cally significant findings were observed regarding the laterality for vein of Labbe & vein of Trolard. Conclusion:MR venography is an excellent diagnos?c technique to visualise anatomy and anatomic varia?ons of venous sinuses as observed in our study. The par?al spli?ng of superior sagi?al sinus in either anterior one third or posterior one third as seen in our study, can cause misdiagnosis of thrombosis. Hence, knowledge of normal anatomy and anatomic varia?ons in the intracranial venous sinuses is very important to diagnose cerebral venous sinus thrombosis accurately.