Retrograde flow in the left inferior petrosal sinus and blood steal of the cavernous sinus associated with central vein stenosis: MR angiographic findings.
OBJECTIVE
We attempted to identify the cause of abnormal venous flow seen during arterial MR angiography in the inferior petrosal sinus by use of in three female patients (aged 51, 48, and 70 years, respectively).


METHODS
Arterial 3D time-of-flight MR angiography was performed with a tilted optimized nonsaturating excitation pulse sequence (TR/TE, 31/7; flip angle, 20 degrees; section thickness, 65 mm; effective thickness, 1 mm; number of sections, 1 to 2); no magnetization transfer pulse sequence was used. Contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography of the neck was performed with a 3D fast low-angle shot pulse sequence (TR/TE, 4.6/1.8; flip angle, 40 to 45 degrees; section thickness, 80 mm; intersection gap, 1.5 mm; acquisition matrix, 180 x 256; acquisition time, 27 s) on a system with a whole-body coil.


RESULTS
In all three patients, 3D time-of-flight MR angiography revealed abnormal vascular signal originating from the left cavernous sinus, continuing through the inferior petrosal sinus, and ending in the proximal internal jugular vein at the jugular bulb level. Abnormal vascular signal at the jugular bulb, sluggish flow and flow-related enhancement in the left internal jugular vein, and signal void in the contralateral jugular vein were noted. Contrast-enhanced delayed-phase MR angiography showed stenosis in the left brachiocephalic vein in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
High signal intensity noted at the inferior petrosal sinus resulted from retrograde flow. Retrograde flow was due to blood stealing from the internal jugular vein toward the cavernous sinus because of venous stenosis in the brachiocephalic vein.
Paksoy
Yahya
Y
Ultra Görüntüleme Merkezi (Imaging Center), Konya, Turkey.
Genç
Bülent Oğuz
BO
Genç
Emine
E
D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D016121:Brachiocephalic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D020216:Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008875:Middle Aged; D017591:Petrosal Sinus Sampling; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*
D003287:Contrast Media