title: Superior petrosal sinus: hemodynamic features in normal and cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Normal hemodynamic features of the superior petrosal sinus and their relationships to the SPS drainage from cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas are not well known. We investigated normal hemodynamic features of the SPS on cerebral angiography as well as the frequency and types of the SPS drainage from CSDAVFs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 119 patients who underwent cerebral angiography by focusing on visualization and hemodynamic status of the SPS. We also reviewed selective angiography in 25 consecutive patients with CSDAVFs; we were especially interested in the presence of drainage routes through the SPS from CSDAVFs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 119 patients (238 sides), the SPS was segmentally (anterior segment, 37 sides; posterior segment, 82 sides) or totally (116 sides) demonstrated. It was demonstrated on carotid angiography in 11 sides (4.6%), receiving blood from the basal vein of Rosenthal or sphenopetrosal sinus, and on vertebral angiography in 235 sides (98.7%), receiving blood from the petrosal vein. No SPSs were demonstrated with venous drainage from the cavernous sinus. SPS drainage was found in 7 of 25 patients (28%) with CSDAVFs. CSDAVFs drained through the anterior segment of SPS into the petrosal vein without draining to the posterior segment in 3 of 7 patients (12%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SPS normally works as the drainage route receiving blood from the anterior cerebellar and brain stem venous systems. The variation of hemodynamic features would be related to the relatively lower frequency and 2 different types of SPS drainage from CSDAVFs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Oita, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiyosue
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanoue
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult