Prenatal MR imaging of dural sinus malformation: a case report.
OBJECTIVE
To describe prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of dural sinus malformation (DSM), a very rare, congenital form of dural arteriovenous shunt (DAVS), typically affecting newborns.


METHODS
Ultrasound (US) and MRI were performed at 34 weeks' gestation, and the findings of these examinations were compared with postnatal MRI studies performed at 2 days and 1 month.


RESULTS
US showed an anechoic, midline posterior fossa collection with irregular internal echodensities. Color Doppler showed prominent arterial vascularity at the lesion margins. The prenatal MRI showed a large, profoundly hypointense, midline retrocerebellar mass. Postnatal MRI, complemented with magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, showed the lesion to be a giant dural venous pouch fed by multiple mural arteriovenous shunts. Follow-up MRI at 1 month suggested latent venous hypertension and prompted endovascular treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal MR imaging is useful to establish the diagnosis, to assess complications such as hydrocephalus and tonsillar prolapse, and to help plan perinatal management, postnatal follow-up, and treatment decision-making.
Rossi
Andrea
A
Department of Pediatric Neuroradiology, G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy. andrearossi@ospedale-gaslini.ge.it
De Biasio
Pierangela
P
Scarso
Eloisa
E
Gandolfo
Carlo
C
Pavanello
Marco
M
Morana
Giovanni
G
Venturini
Pier Luigi
PL
Tortori-Donati
Paolo
P
D000328:Adult; D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D003392:Cranial Sinuses / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D014463:Ultrasonography