title: Detection of normal spinal veins by using susceptibility-weighted imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the visualization of the spinal veins using susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 1.5-T magnet equipped with a spine matrix coil was used. Axial SWI scans of 20 healthy volunteers were obtained with a three-dimensional fast low-angle shot (3D-FLASH) sequence. Maximum intensity projection (MIP) of the phase images were reconstructed and five MIP images (at the levels of T11, T11/12, T12, T12/L1, and L1) were selected for the evaluation. The anterior median vein (AMV), posterior median vein (PMV), anterior radiculomedullary vein (ARV), posterior radiculomedullary vein (PRV), and sulcal vein (SV) were evaluated using a 4-grade scale (0, none; 1, weak; 2, moderate; and 3, prominent).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AMV was detected in all the subjects (100%). The detection rates of the other veins were lower: PMV, 65%; right ARV, 45%; left ARV, 15%; right PRV, 10%; left PRV, 30%; and SV, 0%. The average scores for AMV, PMV, right ARV, left ARV, right PRV, left PRV, and SV were 0.98, 0.24, 0.20, 0.08, 0.08, 0.14, and 0, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SWI of the spine is feasible. The extrinsic spinal veins can be visualized by SWI without using contrast materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hokkaido University Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kinya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishizaka
authors.forename: Kohsuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujima
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zaitsu
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yazu
authors.forename: Khin Khin
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Tha
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terae
authors.forename: E Mark
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Haacke
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult