Cranial venous sinus dominance: what to expect? Analysis of 100 cerebral angiographies

ABSTRACT

We report an analysis of the cranial venous sinuses circulation, emphasizing morphological and angiographic characteristics.

Methods

Data of 100 cerebral angiographies were retrospectively analyzed (p = 0.05).

Results

Mean age was 56.3 years, 62% female and 38% male. Measurements and dominance are shown in the Tables. There was no association between age or gender and dominance. Right parasagittal division of the superior sagittal sinus was associated with right dominance of the transverse sinus, sigmoid sinus and internal jugular vein; and left parasagittal division of the superior sagittal sinus was associated with left dominance of the transverse sinus, sigmoid sinus and internal jugular vein.

Conclusion

A dominance pattern of cranial venous sinuses was found. Age and gender did not influence this pattern. Angiographic findings, such as division of the superior sagittal sinus, were associated with a pattern of cranial venous dominance. We hope this article can add information and assist in preoperative venous analysis for neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists.

RESUMO

Relatamos uma análise da circulação dos seios venoso cranianos, enfatizando características morfológicas e angiográficas.

Métodos

Dados de 100 angiografias cerebrais foram retrospectivamente analisados (p = 0,05).

Resultados

Média de idade 56,3 anos, 62% feminino e 38% masculino. Medições e dominância expostos em tabelas. Sem associação entre idade ou sexo e dominância. Divisão parassagittal direita do Seio Sagital Superior (SSS) foi associada com dominância direita do Seio Transverso (ST), Seio Sigmóide (SS) e Veia Jugular Interna (VJI), e divisão parassagittal esquerda do SSS foi associada com dominância esquerda do ST, SS e VJI.

Conclusão

Um padrão de dominância dos seios venosos do crânio foi encontrado. Idade e sexo não influenciaram esse padrão. Achados angiográficos, como divisão do SSS, foram associados com o padrão de dominância venoso cerebral. Esperamos que este artigo acrescente informações e auxilie na análise venosa pré-operatória para neurocirurgiões e neuroradiologistas.

cranial sinuses - cerebral angiography - anatomy

seios cranianos - angiografia cerebral - anatomia

The cranial venous sinuses are channels lined by endothelial layers located between the periosteal (outer) and meningeal (internal) dura mater[1]. They collect blood from the superficial and deep cerebral veins, meninges and calvarium, and form the main drainage route of the cranial cavity[2].

The understanding of the cranial venous sinus anatomy is fundamental in neurosurgery and radiology, especially in surgical planning and treatment of neurological diseases, and to avoid complications[3],[4],[5],[6],[7],[8],[9]. The cerebral venous drainage dominance analysis should be considered before operations on patients for a large variety of neurosurgical diseases, especially if possible coagulation of venous structures is needed[5]. Analysis of cranial venous dominance is of great importance in many neurosurgeries, as well in neck surgeries[5]. Venous sinus analysis by angiography is usually recommended as the best preoperative evaluation for diseases involving the major sinuses[10]. We found a lack of publications in our region on this matter.

In this article, we report on the angiographic analysis of cranial venous sinus circulation, emphasizing morphological and angiographic characteristics and possible associations, aiming to contribute to current neurosurgical and radiological knowledge.

METHODS

A total of 104 cerebral angiographies were retrospectively obtained from two reference centers. All examinations were performed by the same radiology team, with a similar pattern, and analyzed by the chief radiologist of the team. The research project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Pernambuco. Consent letters were obtained for the collection of the data.

The study was of 2D angiograms, adapting to a reality of a developing center in our region. After four angiograms were excluded due to venous sinus thrombosis, a total of 100 cerebral angiograms were analyzed. Data were analyzed descriptively (average) and by association tests (contingency table and Fisher Exact Test). The level of significance was 5% (p = 0.05). The variables were organized in epidemiological and angiographic groups. The epidemiological variables were age, gender and reason for the examination. The angiographic variables were measurement and measurement ratio of the transverse sinus (TS), sigmoid sinus (SS) and internal jugular vein (IJV); jugular bulb height; division point of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS); presence of occipital sinus (OS); visualization of the mastoid emissary vein; and presence of the suboccipital venous plexus.

Data were organized in spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel (v. 2011, Microsoft Corp.) and were statistically analyzed using Graphpad Prism (v.6, Graphpad Software, Inc.). Angiographies were analyzed using an Osirix Dicom Viewer (v. 5.8, Pixmeo Sarl Corp.). Measurements were initially acquired in pixels and subsequently converted into millimeters.

The midline was defined by a line perpendicular to the mean distance between the medial border of the orbital rims, and assisted by calcification of faux when visible. The TS measurement was acquired between the ninth and tenth portion of the distance between the edges of one side to the other. The SS measurement was acquired at the average distance of the length of the sinus. The IJV measurement was acquired at the first possible moment of defining the limits of its walls, just below the jugular bulb, at the frontal incidence of angiography. The analysis is exemplified in [Figure 1].

Figure 1 Methodology for analysis of images: venous aspect of cerebral angiography, frontal view.SSS: superior sagittal sinus; DivSSS: division point of superior sagittal sinus; RTS: right transverse sinus; LTS: left transverse sinus; RSS: right sigmoid sinus; LSS: left sigmoid sinus; RIJV: right internal jugular vein; LIJV: left internal jugular vein; ML: Midline.

The measurement ratio right/left of the sinuses (or IJV) were stratified according to dominance. A venous sinus was classified as dominant when the measurement ratio was more than 1.5 (dominant right) or less than 0.67 (dominant left) (sinus measurement was more than 50% than the contralateral side). A venous sinus was classified as symmetrical when the measurement ratio was equal or between 1.5 and 0.67 (sinuses measuring between the limit of 50%).

The jugular bulb height was analyzed using a line at the top limit of each jugular bulb to the contralateral side, parallel to the line between the medial borders of the orbital rims. It was classified as being the same height when the lines were coincident or within a limit of 5mm, and as high/redundant when the lines were spaced apart over a limit of 5 mm. This is exemplified in [Figure 2].

Figure 2 Methodology for jugular bulb analysis: venous aspect of cerebral angiography, frontal view. High bulb on the right side (patient 79).RIJV: right internal jugular vein; LIJV: left internal jugular vein.

RESULTS

Epidemiological data

The mean age of the patients was 56.3 years (22 to 89 years). The gender distribution was 62% female and 38% male. The most common reason for angiographic examination was suspicion of a cerebral aneurysm (38%).

Dominance of cranial venous sinuses

The overall average measurements, including gender distribution, and the dominance pattern of the TS, SS and IJV are reported in [Tables 1] and [2]. Patterns of dominance are exemplified in [Figures 3] and [4].

Table 1 Measurements vs distribution according to gender.

Measurement vs. Distribution	General (mm)	Male (mm)	Female (mm)
Right TS	6.4	6.8	6.1
Left TS	5.4	5.1	5.6
Right SS	6.5	6.8	6.3
Left SS	5.3	5.2	5.3
Right IJV	9.1	9.0	9.3
Left IJV	7.4	6.8	7.8

TS: transverse sinus; SS: sigmoid sinus; IJV: internal jugular vein.

Table 2 Dominance analysis.

Sinus/vein vs. Dominance	Right (%)	Left (%)	Symmetry (%)
TS	36	14	50
SS	35	15	50
IJV	33	11	56

TS: transverse sinus; SS: sigmoid sinus; IJV: internal jugular vein.

Figure 3 Patient 78, right dominance of the transverse sinus, sigmoid sinus and internal jugular vein.RTS: right transverse sinus; LTS: left transverse sinus; RSS: right sigmoid sinus; LSS: left sigmoid sinus; RIJV: right internal jugular vein; LIJV: left internal jugular vein.

Figure 4 Patient 40, left dominance of transverse sinus, sigmoid sinus and internal jugular vein, with parasagittal left division of superior sagittal sinus.RTS: right transverse sinus; LTS: left transverse sinus; RSS: right sigmoid sinus; LSS: left sigmoid sinus; RIJV: right internal jugular vein; LIJV: left internal jugular vein; DivSSS: Division point of superior sagittal sinus; ML: midline.

The division of the SSS was parasagittal right in 34%, parasagittal left in 12%, and sagittal in 54% of patients.

There was no statistically significant association between age or gender and venous sinus dominance. The data of dominance according to gender are shown in [Table 3].

Table 3 Gender vs. dominance according to gender distribution.

Variable	Right (%)	Left (%)	Symmetry (%)	Total (%)
Gender vs. TS Dominance
Male	19	4	15	38
Female	17	10	35	62
Total	36	14	50	100
Gender vs. SS Dominance
Male	19	4	15	38
Female	16	11	35	62
Total	35	15	50	100
Gender vs. IJV Dominance
Male	15	4	19	38
Female	18	7	37	62
Total	33	11	56	100

TS: transverse sinus; SS: sigmoid sinus; IJV: internal jugular vein.

The presence of right parasagittal division of the SSS was associated with right dominance of the TS, SS and IJV, with an odds ratio of 33.8 (p < 0.0001), 9.4 (p < 0.0001) and 15.2 (p < 0.0001), respectively. The presence of left parasagittal division of the SSS was associated with left dominance of the TS, SS and IJV, with an odds ratio of 27.3 (p < 0.0001), 8.7 (p = 0.0023) and 5.8 (p = 0.0255), respectively. The dominance data according to the division of SSS are shown in [Table 4]. An example of the division correlation between the SSS and dominance is shown in [Figure 4].

Table 4 Division of SSS vs. dominance according to the division point of the superior sagittal sinus.

Variable	Right (%)	Left (%)	Symmetrical (%)	Total (%)
Division of SSS vs. TS Dominance
Parasagittal right	28	0	6	34
Parasagittal left	0	8	4	12
Sagittal	8	6	40	54
Total	36	14	50	100
Division of SSS vs. SS Dominance
Parasagittal right	23	0	11	34
Parasagittal left	0	6	6	12
Sagittal	12	9	33	54
Total	35	15	50	100
Division of SSS vs. IJV Dominance
Parasagittal right	24	1	9	34
Parasagittal left	0	4	8	12
Sagittal	9	6	39	54
Total	33	11	56	100

TS: transverse sinus; SS: sigmoid sinus; IJV: internal jugular vein SSS: superior sagittal sinus.

Additional findings

For the upper limit of the jugular bulb, our study found the same level in 70% of patients: 19% high bulb on the right side and 11% high bulb on the left side. A high bulb is exemplified in [Figure 2].

The occipital marginal sinus was present in 18% of patients. The right mastoid vein was present in 29% and left mastoid vein in 22%. The suboccipital venous plexus was present in 58%.

DISCUSSION

The SSS originates just behind the paranasal frontal sinuses, near the crista galli and progressively increases in size to continue later in a shallow depression of the mid-sagittal inner table of the skull, collecting numerous parasagittal veins[11]-[13]. It drains into the transverse sinus in the internal occipital protuberance through a complex plexiform venous confluence, called the torcula Herophili (confluence of sinuses)[12].

Variations of the torcula have been described according to its anatomic composition[14]. The SSS can end directly in the transverse sinus. In this situation, the transverse sinus of the opposite side, generally, is hypoplasic or missing[11]. The SSS can be continued as a right transverse sinus and the straight sinus can become the left transverse sinus, associated with hypoplasia of the torcula Herophili[2]. The presence of a septum may have implications in the analysis of the torcula flow[15]. There may also be a compartment inside a venous sinus, which can be important in the treatment of a dural fistula by endovascular procedure[16].

The SSS often deviates slightly to the right as it runs inferiorly along the occipital bone, which ends up becoming the right transverse sinus. In about 20% of normal patients, the SSS deviates more than 1 cm from the midline[11]. An angiographic study by Shima et al. showed a percentage of 40.3%, in which the division point of the SSS was to the right in comparison to its anterior portion, 35.4% situated in the midline, 19.4% left, 2.7% indeterminate and 2.3% absent[17].

In the present study, the division of the SSS was sagittal in most cases (54%), followed by parasagittal right (34%) and parasagittal left (12%).

The OS begins on the posterior margin of the foramen magnum and passes superiorly toward the torcula. It communicates with the internal jugular vein, with the vertebral venous plexus and the clival venous plexus through multiple small channels[18]. In about 2% of patients, the OS behaves as a major drainage channel to the straight sinus or SSS[19],[20].

In our study, the OS was present in 18% of patients.

The TS is contained within the connections of the leaves of the tentorium with the calvarium.[13] It starts at the internal occipital protuberance and bow, anterior and lateral to the petrous temporal bone. At the posterior edge of the petrous temporal bone, the TS receives the superior petrosal sinus and then turns downward and medially, leaving the tentorium and becoming the sigmoid sinus[2],[21].

Some anatomic studies[4],[6],[8],[22] have shown right dominance of the TS as the most common pattern (45–75%). Symmetrical (19–41%) and left dominance (14–29%) were less frequent. Another anatomic study by Park et al. showed right dominance in 35.5% and symmetry in 58.1%.[15] A study based on CT scans by Friedmann et al.[7] showed that the right-sided venous dominance was most common (70-80%), and the venous system was larger in men than women. A study based on magnetic resonance venography by Manara et al.,[23] showed that the mean caliber of the right TS was significantly greater than the contralateral sinus (6.5 mm +/-1.84 vs. 5.1 mm +/-1.72). Right and left dominance was observed in 61% and 17% of cases, respectively.

In a radiological study using angiography by Modic et al.,[9] right dominance was found in 56%, symmetry in 26% and left dominance in 18%. Another angiographic study, by Shima et al.[17], analyzed 253 angiographies and found right dominance in 51.3%, symmetry in 33.5% and left dominance in 9.5%. An angiographic retrospective study with 189 patients, by Durgun et al.,[5] showed 41.3% with right dominance drainage, 37.6% with equal drainage and 18.5% with left dominance drainage.

Our study showed a greater measurement of the right TS (6.4 mm) in comparison to the left TS (5.4 mm). The TS had right dominance in 36% of patients; left in 14% and 50% were symmetrical. We found no association between the measurements according to gender ([Table 1]).

The SS is the anterior and inferior continuation of the TS. After a gentle S-shaped curve, behind the petrous portion of the temporal bone, the SS reaches the jugular foramen and ends at the jugular bulb. The lateral sinus is formed by the junction of the TS and SS on each side[2],[21].

Regarding the dominance of the SS, an autopsy study by Gotto[24] found right dominance in 70.2%, equal in 18.3% and left in 11.5%. An angiographic study by Shima et al.[17] showed right dominance in 29.3%, symmetrical in 49.0%, and left in 14.1%.

In our study, the SS had right dominance in 35% of cases, left dominance in 15% and symmetry in 50%.

The IJV begins at the jugular fossa, as a continuation of the SS. Its initial portion has a small expansion called the jugular bulb. It ends by uniting with the respective subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic vein[2].

Regarding the dominance of the IJV, the autopsy study by Gotto[24] showed right dominance in 67.4%, equal in 20.5% and left in 12.1%. Shima et al.’s angiographic study[17] showed right dominance in 14.2%, symmetry in 64.2% and left dominance in 4.2%.

The present study showed a symmetry of 56% between the IJVs, a right dominance in 33% and left dominance in 11%.

During the literature review, including our own results, it was observed that there is a pattern in some of the literature with approximate results, but there is some variety where numbers are reported. We believe these differences may be due to epidemiological aspects (population, gender, age) and different examinations (CT, MR, autopsy, angiography). We believe aspects such as absence (autopsy) or presence (angiographic) of venous flow, 3D (autopsy) or 2D (angiographic) measurement acquisition, visualization of the vein wall (autopsy) or contrast view of vein lumen (angiographic), among others, may account for these differences.

The jugular bulb is the initial portion of the IJV in the jugular fossa. Occasionally, the upper portion is located higher than usual (high/redundant bulb), usually unilaterally. Because of its close relationship with the pneumatized petrous bone, this can be the cause for pulsatile tinnitus.[2] Identification of a high jugular bulb has great value when planning surgeries through the temporal bone and some authors have tried to correlate this with other anatomic findings[25]. The study by Friedmann et al.[7] showed that jugular bulbs were not detected in patients younger than two years, became enlarged in adulthood, and remained stable in the elderly.

As for the upper limit of the jugular bulb, our study found approximately the same level in 70% of cases (respecting our limit definition). In the remaining patients (30%), 19 patients demonstrated a higher jugular bulb on the right, and in 11 patients it was on the left.

Shima et al.[17] analyzed the pattern for the division of the SSS and showed concordance between the dominance of TS, SS and IJV.

Our study showed that the presence of a parasagittal right division of the SSS was associated with dominance of the right TS, SS and IJV, and the presence of left parasagittal division of the SSS was associated with left dominance of the ST, SS and IJV, with statistical significance.

In conclusion, the dominance pattern of cranial venous sinuses found in this study, is consistent with some of the literature.

Epidemiological data, such as age and gender did not influence the pattern of dominance of the cranial venous sinuses.

The division of the SSS has significant association with the dominance of the TS, SS and IJV.

Conflict of interest:

There is no conflict of interest to declare.

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Publication History

Received: 02 September 2016

Accepted: 24 January 2017

Article published online:
05 September 2023