Physiologic variations in dural venous sinus flow on phase-contrast MR imaging.

Publication/Presentation Date

7-1-2000

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Our study quantifies normal physiologic variations of dural sinus flow using phase-contrast MR imaging.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifteen volunteers were imaged using nontriggered and triggered phase-contrast MR venography of the superior sagittal and transverse sinuses. Triggered scans were obtained during regular breathing; nontriggered scans were obtained during regular breathing, breath-holding, deep inspiratory breath-holding, and deep expiratory breath-holding. Analysis of variance, Bonferroni method, and Dunn post hoc analysis were used to determine any significant differences in the mean flow and velocity between the different breathing maneuvers. A paired t test was used to compare flow between sinuses during regular breathing.

RESULTS: Deep inspiratory breath-holding and deep expiratory breath-holding resulted in a significant decrease in blood flow and velocity in all dural sinuses compared with regular breathing. During deep inspiratory breath-holding, blood flow decreased 30.8% in the superior sagittal sinus, 19.7% in the left transverse sinus, and 19.1% in the right transverse sinus. Similarly, during deep expiratory breath-holding, blood flow decreased 30.2% in the superior sagittal sinus, 20.8% in the left transverse sinus, and 20.3% in the right transverse sinus. The sum of the flow in the transverse sinuses was significantly greater than in the sagittal sinus. Normal pulsatility of dural sinus blood velocity was also characterized for all measured sinuses.

CONCLUSION: Characterization of variations in dural sinus velocity and flow as a function of the cardiac cycle and breathing maneuvers, using phase-contrast MR imaging, may help separate physiologic from pathologic changes of flow resulting from conditions that influence the cerebrovascular circulation.

Volume

175

Issue

1

First Page

221

Last Page

225

ISSN

0361-803X

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

10882276

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

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