More reliable noninvasive visualization of the cerebral veins and dural sinuses: comparison of three MR angiographic techniques.

PURPOSE To compare the visualization of cerebral veins and dural sinuses at contrast material-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) fast low-angle shot (FLASH) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography, and phase-contrast MR angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS The authors prospectively compared the two-dimensional source images, multiplanar reconstructed images, and maximum intensity projection angiograms obtained at contrast-enhanced 3D radio-frequency-spoiled FLASH MR angiography in 20 patients with those obtained at TOF and phase-contrast MR angiographic examinations. Two neuroradiologists in consensus determined the number of visualized cortical veins and graded the quality of visualization of veins and sinuses as intense and continuous, faint and continuous, or noncontinuous. Statistical analysis was performed with the nonparametric sign test and the Wilcoxon matched pairs sign rank test. RESULTS The cortical veins, inferior sagittal sinus, and cavernous sinuses were visualized best with FLASH MR angiography (P <.003). The Trolard and Labbé veins were visualized equally well with the FLASH and TOF sequences. For septal, internal cerebral, and Rosenthal left basal vein visualization, phase-contrast MR angiography was inferior to the FLASH and TOF MR angiographic examinations (P <.05). The quality of visualization of the thalamostriate and Galen veins and of the superior sagittal, rectal, and transverse sinuses was the same at all MR angiographic examinations. CONCLUSION Three-dimensional FLASH MR angiography depicts some venous structures better than do TOF and phase-contrast MR angiographic examinations. The depiction of other veins is the same with 3D FLASH and TOF sequences.

[1]  T. Miura,et al.  Follow-up MRI in dural arteriovenous malformations involving the cavernous sinus: emphasis on detection of venous thrombosis , 2004, Neuroradiology.

[2]  M. Kitajima,et al.  Evaluation of the intracranial dural sinuses with a 3D contrast-enhanced MP-RAGE sequence: prospective comparison with 2D-TOF MR venography and digital subtraction angiography. , 2001, AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology.

[3]  K. Watanabe,et al.  Gadolinium-enhanced 3D time-of-flight Mr angiography , 1997, Acta radiologica.

[4]  M. C. Han,et al.  Contrast-enhanced MR angiography for the diagnosis of intracranial vascular disease: optimal dose of gadopentetate dimeglumine. , 1995, AJR. American journal of roentgenology.

[5]  P. Purdy,et al.  Treatment of dural sinus thrombosis using selective catheterization and urokinase , 1995, Annals of neurology.

[6]  D. Dormont,et al.  Gadolinium-enhanced MR of chronic dural sinus thrombosis. , 1995, AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology.

[7]  W. Yuh,et al.  MR staging of acute dural sinus thrombosis: correlation with venous pressure measurements and implications for treatment and prognosis. , 1995, AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology.

[8]  J. Lewin,et al.  Time-of-flight intracranial MR venography: evaluation of the sequential oblique section technique. , 1994, AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology.

[9]  R. Higashida,et al.  Treatment of dural sinus thrombosis by urokinase infusion. , 1994, AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology.

[10]  J. Cervós-Navarro,et al.  Neuropathological changes following occlusion of the superior sagittal sinus and cerebral veins in the cat , 1994, Neuropathology and applied neurobiology.

[11]  A. Villringer,et al.  Pathophysiological aspects of cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (SVT). , 1994, Journal of neuroradiology. Journal de neuroradiologie.

[12]  K. Frerichs,et al.  Cerebral Sinus and Venous Thrombosis in Rats Induces Long-Term Deficits in Brain Function and Morphology—Evidence for a Cytotoxic Genesis , 1994, Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.

[13]  T. Spera,et al.  Local fibrinolysis in cerebral venous thrombosis. , 1994, Pediatric neurology.

[14]  D. Parker,et al.  Intracranial MRA: single volume vs. multiple thin slab 3D time-of-flight acquisition. , 1993, Journal of computer assisted tomography.

[15]  D Chien,et al.  Improved time-of-flight MR angiography of the brain with magnetization transfer contrast. , 1992, Radiology.

[16]  J. Hennen,et al.  Occlusion of the pig superior sagittal sinus, bridging and cortical veins: multistep evolution of sinus-vein thrombosis. , 1992, Journal of neurosurgery.

[17]  J. Lewin,et al.  Intracranial MR angiography: a direct comparison of three time-of-flight techniques. , 1991, AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology.

[18]  N J Pelc,et al.  Dural sinus occlusion: evaluation with phase-sensitive gradient-echo MR imaging. , 1991, AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology.

[19]  R R Edelman,et al.  Cerebral venography with MR. , 1991, Radiology.

[20]  P Schmalbrock,et al.  Normal venous anatomy of the brain: demonstration with gadopentetate dimeglumine in enhanced 3-D MR angiography. , 1990, AJR. American journal of roentgenology.

[21]  S. Kannuki,et al.  Neuropathological Findings in the Thrombosis of Cerebral Veins and Sinuses: Vascular Aspects , 1990 .

[22]  J. Chiras,et al.  Cerebral venous thrombosis--a review of 38 cases. , 1985, Stroke.

[23]  A. Towbin.  The Syndrome of Latent Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: Its Frequency and Relation to Age and Congestive Heart Failure , 1973, Stroke.