Abstract
Purpose
Although arachnoid granulations (AGs) were initially described by Pacchioni more than 300 years ago, they are still poorly described, especially those in middle cranial fossa. The aim of this study was to identify anatomical features of AGs in middle cranial fossa of cadaver and compare such features with that of 64-slice computed tomography.
Methods
The study involved anatomical dissection of 33 adult cadaveric heads and computed tomographic (CT) examinations of 40 patients with various intracranial diseases. The number, size, distribution, and morphology of the AGs in middle cranial fossa of the cadavers and patients were examined and compared.
Results
The number of AGs observed on the middle cranial fossa of the cadaveric specimens was greater than that of the patients (P < 0.05). While anatomic dissection revealed a total of 228 AGs in 24 of 33 cadaveric heads, CT scans demonstrated only 80 AGs in 23 of 40 patients. In cadavers, the AGs occurred in the following sites in order of frequency: the middle meningeal sinus (144 AGs, 63.2%), sphenoparietal sinus (47 AGs, 20.6%), lateral foramen rotundum (19 AGs, 8.3%), and cavernous sinus (18 AGs, 7.9%). In CT images, the AGs occurred in the following sites in order of frequency: the middle meningeal sinus (50 AGs, 62.5%), sphenoparietal sinus (23 AGs, 28.8%), and lateral foramen rotundum (7 AGs, 8.8%). The AGs of cavernous sinus and venous lacunae adjacent to the middle meningeal sinus were hardly identified on CT images. Most of the AGs were spherical or finger-like in shape. Histologically, the AGs can be divided into two types: single type and lobulated type.
Conclusions
The study provides a detailed description of AGs in or near the middle meningeal sinus, sphenoparietal sinus, lateral foramen rotundum, and cavernous sinus. It also reveals a difference in the ability of detecting cranial AGs between microanatomy and CT scans.
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Acknowledgments
The generosity of the Departments of Anatomy and Radiology, Anhui Medical University, for providing access to cadavers, neuroimaging, and technical assistance is acknowledged. We thank Dr. Bin Liu and Xue fei Deng for providing us with the analysis of the data. The cadavers were donated for medical education and research purposes and approved by the Medical Ethic Committee of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China. The project was funded by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China and Natural Sciences Foundation of Anhui, China (Reference Nos. 30771137 and 070413072).
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Chen, F., Deng, Xf., Liu, B. et al. Arachnoid granulations of middle cranial fossa: a population study between cadaveric dissection and in vivo computed tomography examination. Surg Radiol Anat 33, 215–221 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-010-0733-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-010-0733-2