title: Incidence and distribution of extravascular compression of extracranial venous pathway in patients with chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the incidence and distribution of extravascular compression of the extracranial venous pathway (the jugular and/or azygous veins) in multiple sclerosis patients with chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency evaluated by mulitislice computer tomographic angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study group consisted of 51 consecutive patients with multiple sclerosis in whom chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency was diagnosed by color Doppler sonography (CDS). Mulitislice computer tomographic angiography was performed in all patients, and it revealed significant extravascular compression (>70%) of extracranial venous pathway in 26 patients (51%), while in 25 patients (49%) no significant extravascular compression was seen. Extracranial compression due to transverse processus of cervical vertebrae was seen in 23 patients, carotid bulb compression was seen in two patients, and in one case, compression presented as a thoracic outlet syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that extravascular compression of the extracranial venous pathway is frequent in multiple sclerosis patients with chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, and that it is mainly due to compression caused by transverse processus of cervical vertebrae. Further studies are needed to evaluate potential clinical implications of this phenomenon.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Clinic, School of Medicine, Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Radak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Djordje
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Clinic, School of Medicine, Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia aleksili@sbb.rs.
authors.forename: Ilijevski
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nenad
authors.affiliation: Neuroangiology Department, School of Medicine, Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia Faculty of Stomatology Pancevo, University Business Academy, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Kolar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jovo
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, School of Medicine, Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Sagić
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dragan
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, School of Medicine, Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Antonić
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Želimir
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Clinic, School of Medicine, Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tanasković
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Slobodan
authors.affiliation: Neuroangiology Department, School of Medicine, Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia Faculty of Stomatology Pancevo, University Business Academy, Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Aleksić
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nikola
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Clinic, School of Medicine, Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Babić
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Srdjan
authors.affiliation: Dr AD Popović Cardiovascular Research Centre, School of Medicine, Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Otašević
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Petar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001401:Azygos Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Extravascular compression; MSCT angiography; multiple sclerosis