Abstract
The role of the dural venous sinus system in cerebrovascular pathology and the understanding of normal developmental patterns and sizes of the dural venous sinus system continue to expand. The purpose of this study was to review MR venograms to elucidate developmental patterns and diameters of the major dural venous sinuses from 0 to 20 years of age. All available MR venograms of patients 0-20 years of age who presented to our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patient age at the time of image acquisition was noted, and measurements were taken of the diameters of the major dural venous sinuses. The presence of embryonic sinuses including the persistent falcine sinus and the occipital sinus was noted. Dominance patterns of the transverse sinus system were determined. Mean diameters of each sinus were plotted as a function of age. The prevalence of persistent prenatal sinuses and transverse sinus-dominance patterns was compared across ages. A total of 429 MR venograms from 429 patients were reviewed. All dural venous sinuses demonstrated a maximal growth rate from 0 to 7 years of age and reached maximal diameters around 5-10 years of age. The prevalence of falcine sinuses and occipital sinuses trended downward across increasing age categories (P = .09 and, <.0001, respectively). Dural venous sinuses demonstrate maximal growth between 0 and 7 years of age and reach adult size around 5-10 years of age. Involution of the prenatal sinuses continues to take place after birth into childhood but is largely absent in early adulthood.
Highlights
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEThe role of the dural venous sinus system in cerebrovascular pathology and the understanding of normal developmental patterns and sizes of the dural venous sinus system continue to expand
Evidence continues to accumulate supporting the idea that the dural venous sinus (DVS) system is a plastic, active player in cerebrovascular pathology rather than a fixed and immutable entity.[1,2]
As the role that the DVS system plays in cerebrovascular disease continues to expand, an understanding of the normal developmental patterns of the DVS system becomes increasingly important
Summary
This was a cross-sectional retrospective study of MRVs obtained at a single institution. Regarding the internal jugular veins, the maximum mean diameter was observed in the 16–20 age category on both right and left sides (10.0 6 2.2 and 8.1 6 2.1 mm, respectively). The SSS, torcula, straight sinus, and VOG all reached maximal diameter by 7–10 years of age Both the right and left transverse venous sinuses reached maximal size around 5–7 years of age. A persistent falcine sinus was observed in 8.0% of the younger than 1-year age category This percentage trended downward to 1.4% of the 16to 20-year age category, yet the difference between groups did not reach statistical significance (P = .09). A sample mal age-related venous sinus diameters would be important for MRV of a persistent falcine sinus and occipital sinus is demon- device sizing and treatment planning in these patients. Similar to the pattern observed in the current study, Widjaja and Griffiths[5] found an occipital sinus in 9 of 50 patients (18%), most of whom were
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