High signal intensity in the dural sinuses on 3D-TOF MR angiography at 3.0 T

Inano, Sachiko; Itoh, Daisuke; Takao, Hidemasa; Hayashi, Naoto; Mori, Harushi; Kunimatsu, Akira; Abe, Osamu; Aoki, Shigeki; Ohtomo, Kuni

doi:10.1016/j.clinimag.2009.06.028

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Volume 34, Issue 5 , Pages 332-336, September 2010

High signal intensity in the dural sinuses on 3D-TOF MR angiography at 3.0 T

Sachiko Inano
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
- Corresponding author. Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. Tel.: +81 3 5800 8666; fax: +81 3 5800 8935.
Daisuke Itoh
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Hidemasa Takao
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Naoto Hayashi
- Department of Computational Diagnostic Radiology and Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Harushi Mori
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Akira Kunimatsu
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Osamu Abe
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Shigeki Aoki
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
Kuni Ohtomo
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan

Received 1 May 2009; accepted 30 June 2009. published online 05 April 2010.

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to examine the frequency of high signal intensity in the dural sinuses of normal subjects upon magnetic resonance (MR) angiography using 3.0-T scanners.

Methods

A total of 748 consecutive healthy subjects underwent three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography at 3.0 T. Sixteen subjects were excluded. MR angiographic source images were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of high signal intensity in the inferior petrosal sinus, pterygoid sinus, or sigmoid sinus.

Results

Of the 732 examinations, 10 (1.3%) showed high signal intensity in the dural sinuses (left inferior petrosal sinus, n=4; left pterygoid sinus, n=3; left sigmoid sinus, n=6). High signal intensity in the dural sinuses was observed only on the left side. The minimum diameter of the left brachiocephalic vein was significantly smaller in subjects with high signal intensity than in the control group.

Conclusion

In our study with healthy subjects at 3.0 T, the frequency of high signal intensity in the dural sinuses is as low as 1.3%. Retrograde flow due to physiological stenosis of the left brachiocephalic vein may be one of the causes of this phenomenon.

Keywords: 3.0 T, Carotid cavernous fistula, Dural arteriovenous fistula, Magnetic resonance angiography, Time-of-flight