title: Prevalence of dural venous sinus stenosis and hypoplasia in a generalized population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While recent literature has described the prevalence of transverse sinus stenosis in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension, tinnitus, and refractory headaches, it is unclear what the prevalence is in the general population. This study evaluates the prevalence of venous sinus stenosis and hypoplasia in the general patient population.
  
  
  METHODS
  355 of 600 consecutive patients who underwent CT angiography of the head met the inclusion criteria. The diameters of the dural venous sinuses were recorded. Each study was evaluated by a neuroradiologist for the presence of stenoses. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed by a statistician.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of unilateral transverse sinus stenosis or hypoplasia in a sample of patients representing the general population was 33%, the prevalence of bilateral transverse sinus stenosis was 5%, and the prevalence of unilateral stenosis with contralateral hypoplasia was 1%. A multivariate analysis identified arachnoid granulations as a predictor of stenosis (p<0.001). Gender trended toward significance (p=0.094). Race was not a significant predictor of stenosis (p=0.745).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of bilateral transverse sinus stenosis in the general population is not trivial. These data may be used as a reference for understanding the mechanistic role of stenoses in idiopathic intracranial hypertension, tinnitus, and refractory headaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4236-7524
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Durst
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6091-0733
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ornan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8003-5227
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Reardon
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Prachi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mehndiratta
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Sugoto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Starke
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Section, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wintermark
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Avery
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: R Webster
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Crowley
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gaughen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003392:Cranial Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D054064:Transverse Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Blood Flow; CT Angiography; Intracranial Pressure; Stenosis; Vein