The syndrome of the rolandic vein: Hemiplegia of venous origin

Abstract

T HE disturbances, resuIting from interference with the cerebra1 venous circuIation, because of their reIative infrequency have not received the concentrated attention of cIinica1 investigators. Even so most of the Iiterature concerned with the cerebra1 venous system is IargeIy based on the great venous channeIs, the cavernous, superior sagitta1, Iateral and straight sinuses, whiIe the changes incident to interruption of the cerebra1 veins have received scant mention. There has been a tendency to treat the cerebra1 veins as more or Iess useIess structures devoid of physioIogica1 importance. l In the meager reports there have been few cIinica1 descriptions of the motor and sensory changes to be expected from obstruction of the cerebra1 veins, of a nature suffrcientIy definitive so that the diagnosis of such occIusions can be made with the same confident certainty manifested in evaIuating arteria1 Iesions. However, there has been sIowIy accumuIating information with respect to the physica symptoms resuIting from interruption of the drainage of the roIandic vein, so that the suspicion of such interference can be entertained with increasing conIidence. The idea1 basic situation for such a suspicion occurs when a prior disease exists in or near the superior sagitta1 sinus, such as infection, a tumor invoIving or adjacent to the sinus, or trauma to the sinus. This paper is concerned with a further eIaboration of the syndrome of the roIandic vein.