title: Termination of the inferior petrosal sinus: an anatomical variant.
abstract: Unusual caudal terminations of the inferior petrosal sinus (IPS) characterized by an extracranial extension joining the internal jugular vein up to 40 mm below the external skull base are reported. This variation was observed bilaterally on an anatomical specimen and unilaterally on four patients during diagnostic cerebral angiography. It may be considered an accessory internal jugular vein and, if present, may allow for an alternate endovascular access to the IPS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gailloud
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Fasel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muster
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Desarzens
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ruefenacht
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000716:Anatomy, Artistic; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D003392:Cranial Sinuses / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008488:Medical Illustration