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Emissary veins prevalence and evaluation of the relationship between dural venous sinus anatomic variations with posterior fossa emissary veins: MR study

  • HEAD, NECK AND DENTAL RADIOLOGY
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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of emissary veins and to compare the visibility of these emissary veins with the anatomic variations of the dural venous sinuses detected in magnetic resonance venography (MRV).

Materials and methods

All MR images of two hundred twenty patients were evaluated retrospectively. Posterior cranial fossa emissary veins diameter measurements were performed in the axial plane. The anatomic variations of the venous sinuses in MRVs of all patients were recorded. Accordingly, the presence of the emissary veins was compared with the dural venous sinus anatomic variations. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. An inter-observer reliability analysis was performed.

Results

The prevalence of emissary veins in MRI was found in the right mastoid emissary vein (MEV) 82.7% and left MEV 81.4%. Occipital emissary vein (OEV) was present in 63 patients (28.6%) for the first radiologist (R1), and it was present in 61 patients (27.7%) for the second radiologist (R2) (K = 0.978). A statistically significant correlation was detected between the diameter of the left MEV and gender (p < 0.05) for both radiologists. There was a statistically significant difference between the left MEV and OEV and transverse sinus anatomic variations.

Conclusion

MR imaging is a noninvasive and irradiating imaging method for detecting posterior fossa major emissary veins, and we recommend using MR imaging for preoperative evaluation of posterior fossa major emissary veins and related dural venous sinuses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Kinikli Kampusu, 20100, Denizli, Turkey

    Pinar Gulmez Cakmak, Furkan Ufuk, Ahmet Baki Yagci, Ergin Sagtas & Muhammet Arslan

Authors
  1. Pinar Gulmez Cakmak
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  2. Furkan Ufuk
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  3. Ahmet Baki Yagci
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  4. Ergin Sagtas
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  5. Muhammet Arslan
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Contributions

PGC was involved in protocol development; data collection and management; data analysis; and manuscript writing and editing. AbY collected the data and edited the manuscript. FU collected the data and edited the manuscript. ES edited the manuscript. MA edited the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pinar Gulmez Cakmak.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

Pamukkale University Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee approved the study (Number: PAÜ 60116787-020/81518).

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Gulmez Cakmak, P., Ufuk, F., Yagci, A.B. et al. Emissary veins prevalence and evaluation of the relationship between dural venous sinus anatomic variations with posterior fossa emissary veins: MR study. Radiol med 124, 620–627 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-019-01010-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-019-01010-2

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