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“Hammock” suspending the superior ophthalmic vein: a magnetic resonance imaging study

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Abstract

Purpose

The present study aimed to explore the hammock-like structure suspending the superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

Following conventional MRI examination, 93 outpatients underwent thin-sliced, coronal T2-weighted and contrast imaging of the orbit.

Results

SOVs were consistently detected in all 93 patients. In 90.3% of patients, a hammock-like structure suspending the SOV was identified, which was present on both sides in 64.5% of patients. The structure was frequently located in the anterior and middle thirds of the retrobulbar orbit, suspended from the superolateral corner of the orbital walls. The medial edge of the hammocks did not reach the orbital walls; therefore, they partially encased the SOV. The morphology of the hammock was highly variable between patients, although none were tethered to the extraocular muscles. In addition, a septal band connecting the hammock and optic sheath was identified in 36.6% of patients, most frequently located in the posterior third of the retrobulbar orbit.

Conclusions

The hammock suspending the SOV and the septal band connecting the hammock and optic sheath may be structures that loosely anchor the SOV to the orbital fat to maintain a constant SOV flow, in addition to preventing excessive bends and obstructions.

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Funding

No funding was received for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological Surgery, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, 2-1-1 Tomioka, Urayasu, Chiba, 279-0021, Japan

    Satoshi Tsutsumi & Hisato Ishii

  2. Division of Radiological Technology, Medical Satellite Yaesu Clinic, Tokyo, Japan

    Hideo Ono

Authors
  1. Satoshi Tsutsumi
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  2. Hideo Ono
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  3. Hisato Ishii
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Contributions

All the authors have equally contributed to the study.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Satoshi Tsutsumi.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare regarding the materials or methods used, or the findings presented in this study.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in the study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee in addition to the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

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Tsutsumi, S., Ono, H. & Ishii, H. “Hammock” suspending the superior ophthalmic vein: a magnetic resonance imaging study. Surg Radiol Anat 44, 391–397 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02876-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-021-02876-6

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