title: Evaluation of the effect of hemoglobin or hematocrit level on dural sinus density using unenhanced computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the relationship between hemoglobin (Hgb) or hematocrit (Hct) level and dural sinus density using unenhanced computed tomography (UECT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who were performed UECT and had records of a complete blood count within 24 hours from UECT were included (n=122). We measured the Hounsfield unit (HU) of the dural sinus at the right sigmoid sinus, left sigmoid sinus and 2 points of the superior sagittal sinus. Quantitative measurement of dural sinus density using the circle regions of interest (ROI) method was calculated as average ROI values at 3 or 4 points. Simple regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between mean HU and Hgb or mean HU and Hct.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean densities of the dural sinuses ranged from 24.67 to 53.67 HU (mean, 43.28 HU). There was a strong correlation between mean density and Hgb level (r=0.832) and between mean density and Hct level (r=0.840).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dural sinus density on UECT is closely related to Hgb and Hct levels. Therefore, the Hgb or Hct levels can be used to determine whether the dural sinus density is within the normal range or pathological conditions such as venous thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Korea. lsyrad@chungbuk.ac.kr
authors.forename: Seung Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sang-Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Sung-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong-Ick
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003392:Cranial Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006527:Hepatolenticular Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D054063:Superior Sagittal Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins