Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging of the Anatomic Variation of Thalamostriate Vein and Its Tributaries.
OBJECTIVE
Thalamostriate vein (TSV) is an important tributary of the internal cerebral vein, which mainly drains the basal ganglia and deep medulla. The purpose of this study was to explore the anatomic variation and quality of TSV and its smaller tributaries using susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI).


METHODS
We acquired SWI images in 40 volunteers on a 3.0T MR system using an 8-channel high-resolution phased array coil. The frequencies of the TSV and its tributaries were evaluated. We classified TSV into types I (forming a venous angle) and II (forming a false venous angle). We classified anterior caudate vein (ACV)into types 1 (1 trunk) and 2 (2 trunks) as well as into types A (joiningTSV), B (joining anterior septal vein), and C (joining the angle of both veins).


RESULTS
The TSV drains the areas of caudate nucleus, internal capsule,lentiform nucleus, external capsule, claustrum, extreme capsule and the white matter of the frontoparietal lobes,except thalamus. The frequencies of the TSV, ACV and transverse caudate vein (ACV) were 92.5%, 87.5% and 63.8%, respectively. We found TSV types I and II in 79.7%, and 20.3% with significantly different constitution ratios (P< 0.05). The most common types of ACV were type 1 (90.0%) and type A (64.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
The complex three-dimensional (3D) venous architecture of TSV and its small tributaries manifests great variation, with significant and practical implications for neurosurgery.
Department of Human Anatomy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Xiao-fen
XF
Zhang
Department of Radiology, the 1st Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Jian-ce
JC
Li
Department of Radiology, the 1st Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Xin-dong
XD
Wen
Department of Radiology, the 1st Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Chuan-gen
CG
Ren
Department of Neurosurgery, the 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Ming
M
Cai
Department of Human Anatomy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Cheng-chun
CC
Chen
D000328:Adult; D063405:Anatomic Variation; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013788:Thalamus / Q000098:blood supply