Skip to main content

Normal structures in the intracranial dural sinuses: delineation with 3D contrast-enhanced magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo imaging sequence.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Liang, L; Korogi, Y; Sugahara, T; Ikushima, I; Shigematsu, Y; Takahashi, M; Provenzale, JM
Published in: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol
2002

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The potential pitfalls in the diagnosis of dural sinus thrombosis include the presence of arachnoid granulations, intrasinus fibrotic bands (so-called septa), and hypoplasia or aplasia of the dural sinuses. The purpose of this study was to assess the appearance, distribution, and prevalence of arachnoid granulations and septa in the dural sinuses by using a high resolution 3D contrast-enhanced magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo (MPRAGE) imaging sequence. METHODS: Conventional MR images and contrast-enhanced MPRAGE images of 100 consecutive patients who had no abnormalities of the dural sinuses were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence, site, number, size, signal intensity, and shape of arachnoid granulations and septa within the sinuses and their relationship with adjacent veins were recorded. RESULTS: With 3D contrast-enhanced MPRAGE imaging, 433 round, oval, or lobulated focal filling defects were found in a total of 90 patients. Curvilinear septa were observed in 92 patients. Sixty-nine patients had round, oval, or lobulated defects in the transverse sinus, 59 had such defects in the superior sagittal sinus, and 47 had such defects in the straight sinus. All except two of the above defects were isointense relative to CSF on all images. These structures were presumed to be arachnoid granulations. Of 431 arachnoid granulations, 233 (53.8%) were located in the superior sagittal sinus, 122 (28.1%) in the transverse sinus, and 76 (17.6%) in the straight sinus. One or more veins were seen to enter arachnoid granulations in 414 (96%) instances. CONCLUSION: The contrast-enhanced 3D MPRAGE imaging sequence showed a much higher prevalence and a different distribution of arachnoid granulations and septa within dural sinuses than have been observed in previous radiologic studies. Arachnoid granulations were closely related spatially to veins.

Duke Scholars

Published In

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol

ISSN

0195-6108

Publication Date

2002

Volume

23

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1739 / 1746

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Radiography
  • Prevalence
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • North Carolina
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Infant
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Liang, L., Korogi, Y., Sugahara, T., Ikushima, I., Shigematsu, Y., Takahashi, M., & Provenzale, J. M. (2002). Normal structures in the intracranial dural sinuses: delineation with 3D contrast-enhanced magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo imaging sequence. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol, 23(10), 1739–1746.
Liang, Luxia, Yukunori Korogi, Takeshi Sugahara, Ichiro Ikushima, Yoshinori Shigematsu, Mutsumasa Takahashi, and James M. Provenzale. “Normal structures in the intracranial dural sinuses: delineation with 3D contrast-enhanced magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo imaging sequence.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 23, no. 10 (2002): 1739–46.
Liang L, Korogi Y, Sugahara T, Ikushima I, Shigematsu Y, Takahashi M, et al. Normal structures in the intracranial dural sinuses: delineation with 3D contrast-enhanced magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo imaging sequence. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2002;23(10):1739–46.
Liang L, Korogi Y, Sugahara T, Ikushima I, Shigematsu Y, Takahashi M, Provenzale JM. Normal structures in the intracranial dural sinuses: delineation with 3D contrast-enhanced magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo imaging sequence. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2002;23(10):1739–1746.

Published In

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol

ISSN

0195-6108

Publication Date

2002

Volume

23

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1739 / 1746

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Radiography
  • Prevalence
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • North Carolina
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Infant