Venous variations in the region of the third ventricle: the role of MR venography

• Published in: Neuroradiology Vol. 45; no. 12; pp. 900 - 904
• Main Authors: CIMSIT, N. Cagatay, TÜRE, Ugur, EKINCI, Gazanfer, PAMIR, M. Necmettin, ERZEN, Canan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-12-2003; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cerebral Veins - diagnostic imaging; Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Cerebral Ventriculography; Ependyma - blood supply; Ependyma - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Angiography; Medical sciences; Nervous system; Neurology; Phlebography; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Reproducibility of Results; Third Ventricle - blood supply; Third Ventricle - diagnostic imaging; Tropical medicine; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Asia; Turkey; Performance evaluation; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Subependyma; Neuroradiology; Encephalon; Foramen of Monro; Third cerebral ventricle; Tumor; Diagnosis; NMR angiography; Vein; Human; Nervous system diseases; Anatomical variation; Exploration; Transcallosal approach; Malignant tumor; Anatomy; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Cerebral disorder; Neurology; Central nervous system disease; Skull disease; Radiology; Medical imagery; Skull; MR venography; Technique; Ventricle; Subependymal veins
• ISSN: 0028-3940; 1432-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s00234-003-1103-0

In this study, we examined the anatomical variations of the subependymal veins in the region of the foramen of Monro and the third ventricle by MR time of flight (TOF) venography. Fifty healthy subjects, ten patients with third-ventricle tumors, and four patients with lateral-ventricle tumors were included in the study. The courses of the anterior septal vein (ASV), thalamostriate vein (TSV), and internal cerebral vein (ICV) were studied. The proximity of the venous angle, the false venous angle, and the ASV-ICV junction to the posterior margin of the foramen of Monro was measured. In 69 (53.9%) sides, the ASV-ICV junction was located at the venous angle and at the posterior margin of the foramen of Monro. In 59 (46.1%) sides, the ASV-ICV junction was located beyond the foramen of Monro. Our study shows the high incidence of posteriorly located ASV-ICV junctions, which can be crucial in the planning of a better surgical approach. We strongly recommend that MR venography, which is a short radiological examination, be used before one operates on third-ventricle and lateral-ventricle tumors.