title: Visualization of Anatomic Variation of the Anterior Septal Vein on Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Understanding the anatomy of the anterior septal vein (ASV) is critical for minimally invasive procedures to the third ventricle and for assessing lesion size and venous drainage in the anterior cranial fossa. Accordingly, this study evaluated topographic anatomy and anatomic variation of the ASV using susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty volunteers were examined using a 3.0T MR system. The diameter of the ASV and distance between bilateral septal points were measured. ASVs were divided into types 1 (only drains frontal lobe) and 2 (drains both frontal lobe and head of the caudate nucleus). We evaluated the ASV-internal cerebral vein (ICV) junction based on its positional relationship with the appearance of a venous angle or a false venous angle and the foramen of Monro. Fused SW and T1-weighted images were used to observe positional relationships between the course of the ASV and the surrounding brain structures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ASV and its small tributaries were clearly visualized in 120 hemispheres (100%). The average diameter of ASVs was 1.05±0.17 mm (range 0.9-1.6 mm). The average distance between bilateral septal points was 2.23±1.03 mm (range 1.3-6.6 mm). The ASV types 1 and 2 were in 77 (64.2%) and 43 (35.8%) hemispheres, respectively. In 83 (69.2%) hemispheres, the ASV-ICV junction was situated at the venous angle and the posterior margin of the foramen of Monro. In 37 (30.8%) hemispheres, the ASV-ICV junction was situated beyond the posterior margin of the foramen of Monro. The average distance between the posteriorly located ASV-ICV junction and the posterior margin of the foramen of Monro was 6.41±3.95 mm (range 2.4-15.9 mm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using SWI, the topographic anatomy and anatomic variation of the ASV were clearly demonstrated. Preoperative assessment of anatomic variation of the ASV may be advantageous for minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Zhengzhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The 2nd hospital of Huangshi, Huangshi, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Huihuang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the 1st Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Jiance
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Huizhong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the 1st Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Caiyun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, the 1st Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Xindong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Xiaofen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Xindong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
authors.forename: Chengchun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D063405:Anatomic Variation / Q000502:physiology*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology