Detection of bridging veins draining into superior sagittal sinus by using susceptibility weighted imaging and three dimensional contrast enhancement MR venography

Objective: To use the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) as an example to identify anatomical features of the bridging veins (BVs) draining into the SSS in both susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) and three dimensional contrast enhancement MR venography (3D-CEMRV) images. Methods: A total of 20 healthy volunteers (40 sides) were examined in this study. The venograms of each patient was obtained from SWI (40 sides out of 20 volunteers) and 3D-CE MRV (40 sides out of 20 volunteers). The data were analyzed by t test. Results: According to their draining location with respect to the SSS, bridging veins were divided into two groups. Between the anterior group and the posterior group were two segments of the SSS into which few bridging veins drained. Observed by 3D-CE MRV and SWI, the average numbers of the anterior group were 1.9±0.6 and 3.2±0.8, respectively, and the average diameters of the anterior group were (3.4±1.1) and (2.1±0.5) mm, respectively. These differences between 3D-CE MRV and SWI images were significant (t=11.23, 9.76, P<0.01). Observed by 3D-CE MRV and SWI, the average numbers of the posterior group were 3.5±1.2 and 5.9±1.1, respectively, and the average diameters of the posterior group were (3.7±0.9) and (2.9±0.7) mm, respectively. The differences between the two technique were significant as well (t=11.51, 8.47, P<0.01). Conclusion: The dural entrance of BVs into the SSS can be identified in both SWI and 3D-CE MRV images. The preoperative venogram by using 3D-CE MRV and SWI is useful to design a individual-tailored surgical approach for the preservation of BVs draining into SSS. SWI outweighs 3D-CE MRV in identifying anatomical features of the dural entrance of BVs into the SSS. (authors)