Arterial contamination: a useful indirect sign of cerebral sino-venous thrombosis.
BACKGROUND
Various imaging findings of cerebral sino-venous thrombosis (CSVT) have been described on magnetic resonance venography (MRV).


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the significance of visualization of the arterial system on cerebral MRV, also described as arterial contamination, as an indirect sign of CSVT.


METHODS
Forty patients with a clinical suspicion of venous sinus thrombosis underwent MR imaging of the brain, followed by MRV sequence, based on 2D time of flight technique in the coronal oblique plane. Patient's clinical symptoms and signs were noted with particular interest for papilloedema. Twenty-seven patients were diagnosed to have cerebral venous thrombosis on MRV, and of these, arterial contamination was visualized in 16 patients. In the remaining 13 cases, in which there was no evidence of venous sinus thrombosis, arterial contamination was absent. The sensitivity of this finding was 59.25% (n = 16/27), specificity was 100%, positive predictive value was 100% and negative predictive value was 54.2%. Of these 16 patients with arterial contamination, 12 patients had evidence of increased intracranial pressure in the form of papilloedema.


CONCLUSIONS
Visualization of the arterial system is a useful indirect sign of CSVT, and may be an indicator of increased intracranial pressure in these patients.
Kochhar
R
R
Department of Radiodiagnosis, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. kochhar_rohit@hotmail.com
Khandelwal
N
N
Singh
P
P
Suri
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000592:standards; D003392:Cranial Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010211:Papilledema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011859:Radiography; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology
D015415:Biomarkers; D003287:Contrast Media