title: Susceptibility-weighted imaging of the venous networks around the brain stem.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The venous network of the brainstem is complex and significant. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a practical technique which is sensitive to veins, especially tiny veins. Our purpose of this study was to evaluate the visualization of the venous network of brainstem by using SWI at 3.0 T.
  
  
  METHODS
  The occurrence rate of each superficial veins of brainstem was evaluated by using SWI on a 3 T MR imaging system in 60 volunteers. The diameter of the lateral mesencephalic vein and peduncular vein were measured by SWI using the reconstructed mIP images in the sagittal view. And the outflow of the veins of brainstem were studied and described according to the reconstructed images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median anterior pontomesencephalic vein, median anterior medullary vein, peduncular vein, right vein of the pontomesencephalic sulcus, and right lateral anterior pontomesencephalic vein were detected in all the subjects (100%). The outer diameter of peduncular vein was 1.38 ± 0.26 mm (range 0.8-1.8 mm). The lateral mesencephalic vein was found in 75% of the subjects and the mean outer diameter was 0.81 ± 0.2 mm (range 0.5-1.2 mm). The inner veins of mesencephalon were found by using SWI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The venous networks around the brain stem can be visualized by SWI clearly. This result can not only provide data for anatomical study, but also may be available for the surgical planning in the infratentorial region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, No.109 West Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, 325000, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Xiao-Fen
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hui-Huang
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Zhong-Xiao
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chuan-Gen
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Jian-Ce
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Cheng-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Nu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply*; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity