title: Analysis of the intercavernous sinuses using multidetector computed tomography digital subtraction venography (CT-DSV).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The intercavernous sinuses (ICSs) connect both sides of the cavernous sinus. Knowledge of the ICSs is useful when employing the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach. Although there were some studies concerning the anatomy of ICSs using cadavers, there is no well-recognized method of the radiological evaluation of the ICSs. Therefore, we evaluate the ICSs using computed tomography digital subtraction venography (CT-DSV) in the cases of unruptured aneurysm that had the normal sellae anatomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 97 cases of unruptured cerebral aneurysm that had normal parasellar and sellar anatomy except for the aneurysms. The analysis was performed using the multi-planar reconstruction images obtained by CT-DSV in these cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The anterior ICS (AICS), inferior ICS (IICS) and posterior ICS (PICS) were detected in 51 cases (52.6%), 28 cases (28.9%) and 76 cases (78.4%) respectively. In the cases older than 51 years old, the AICS was detected significantly less often than in those younger than 50 years old.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CT-DSV images directly reflected the blood flow. Most of the past research on the ICSs was obtained using cadavers, which could therefore not directly assess the normal human blood flow. The present study showed the usefulness of CT-DSV for evaluating the ICSs and to understand the normal anatomy of the ICSs.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku City, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: katsu512@yahoo.co.jp.
authors: Katsuhiro
authors: K
authors: Mizutani
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku City, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Toda
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku City, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Kazunari
authors: K
authors: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003392:Cranial Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Anatomy; CT-DSV; Intercavernous sinus; Transsphenoidal approach