title: High signal intensity in the dural sinuses on 3D-TOF MR angiography at 3.0 T.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the frequency of high signal intensity in the dural sinuses of normal subjects upon magnetic resonance (MR) angiography using 3.0-T scanners.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 748 consecutive healthy subjects underwent three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography at 3.0 T. Sixteen subjects were excluded. MR angiographic source images were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of high signal intensity in the inferior petrosal sinus, pterygoid sinus, or sigmoid sinus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 732 examinations, 10 (1.3%) showed high signal intensity in the dural sinuses (left inferior petrosal sinus, n=4; left pterygoid sinus, n=3; left sigmoid sinus, n=6). High signal intensity in the dural sinuses was observed only on the left side. The minimum diameter of the left brachiocephalic vein was significantly smaller in subjects with high signal intensity than in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study with healthy subjects at 3.0 T, the frequency of high signal intensity in the dural sinuses is as low as 1.3%. Retrograde flow due to physiological stenosis of the left brachiocephalic vein may be one of the causes of this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. inano-sim@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inano
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Hidemasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takao
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Harushi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kunimatsu
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Kuni
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohtomo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003392:Cranial Sinuses / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012189:Retrospective Studies