Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to explore the diameters of the optic sheath (OSD) and superior ophthalmic vein (SOVD) in response to positional changes using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Materials and methods
Fifty adult outpatients who presented to the hospital underwent thin-slice coronal T2-weighted MRI in the supine position followed by the prone position.
Results
The OS and SOV were well delineated in all the patients. The OSD in the anterior orbit was measured in the supine and prone positions on both sides. In addition, the SOVD in the anterior and posterior orbits was measured in the supine and prone positions on both sides. The OSD demonstrated an increase on both sides in 100% of the cases. The SOVD demonstrated an increase on both sides in 94% of the cases, whereas the remaining 6% demonstrated a decrease. The OSD measured at the anterior orbit and the SOVD at the anterior and posterior orbits significantly increased on both sides with positional changes from the supine to the prone position.
Conclusion
OSD and SOVD may expand and contract in response to alterations in the intracranial pressure and venous flow patterns. MRI examination in the supine position combined with positional changes can help to better understand the OS and SOV as dynamic structures.
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Availability of data and materials
The data and materials used in this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request (Satoshi Tsutsumi).
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Satoshi Tsutsumi and Satoru Kawai conceived the study design. Satoru Kawai and Michimasa Suzuki performed examinations using magnetic resonance imaging. Natsuki Sugiyama and Hideaki Ueno collected the imaging data. Michimasa Suzuki and Hisato Ishii analyzed the imaging data. Satoshi Tsutsumi wrote the manuscript.
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Tsutsumi, S., Kawai, S., Sugiyama, N. et al. Diameters of the optic sheath and superior ophthalmic vein can expand and contract at positional changes: a magnetic resonance imaging study. Surg Radiol Anat 46, 153–158 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-023-03281-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-023-03281-x