title: Origin of high signal intensity in the cavernous sinus in MR angiographic source images: correlation between MR and conventional angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the origin of a high signal intensity in a cavernous sinus on magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time-of-flight MR angiography was performed in 20 patients scheduled for conventional angiography for disease not related to carotid cavernous fistula. Venous drainage pattern was assessed, and flow rate to a cavernous sinus was semiquantitatively evaluated on conventional angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two sinuses showed high signal intensity in the anterior portion. These were associated with direct venous drainage to the anterosuperior aspect of the cavernous sinus from the superficial middle cerebral vein, and their flow rates were among the 10% of the sides with the highest flow rates. Two other sinuses showed high signal intensity in the posterior portion. Their flow rates from the superficial petrosal sinus were also among the 10% of the sides with the highest flow rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High signal intensity in the anterior or posterior portions of the cavernous sinus is probably a result of inflow from the superficial middle cerebral vein and the superior petrosal sinus, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Osaka University Medical School, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. tanaka@radiol.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hirabuki
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kashiwagi
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujinaka
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimine
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013382:Subtraction Technique
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media