Radiographic anatomy of normal cerebral deep medullary veins: criteria for distinguishing them from their abnormal counterparts.

Abstract

The angiographic demonstration per se of cerebral deep medullary veins does not necessarily indicate abnormality. Their visualization, under normal conditions, depends on the selectivity of injection, the quality of radiographic imaging, and the quantity of contrast material injected. Normal deep medullary veins were recognized in the late venous phase of two-thirds of normal selective internal carotid angiographies; their location most often was adjacent to the atrium and posterior body of the lateral ventricle. Normal and abnormal deep medullary veins can be differentiated in terms of appearance-time, caliber, length and regional distribution.