Abstract:
Backdround.
Variants of the venous system structure of the brain should be taken into account when planning surgery for better assessment of the location and degree of tumor, vascular malformation, or other pathologies to be treated.
Material and methods
The research material consisted of computed tomographic angiography scan data from 98 patients. Reconstruction of the skull and vascular structures with 3D model construction was performed using Vidar Dicom Viewer 3
software.
The cross-sectional area of the dural venous sinuses was measured at various points and diameters were determined. The obtained data were processed using statistical methods.
Results
The types of confluence of sinuses structure have been identified and classified. Qualitative and quantitative
characteristics of each type and subtype are presented. It was established that the most frequently encountered is the
partial type of confluence of sinuses of the dura mater, with asymmetric structure in 55,1% of cases showing dominance of the right transverse sinus (38,78% of the total number of patients).
The occipital sinus was bifurcated in 55,1% of patients, and in 9,18% of cases was divided into multiple sinuses.
Statistically significant correlations were identified between the type of confluence of sinuses and the presence
of certain forms of hypoplasia and aplasia.
Conclusions
Although anatomical variations of dural venous sinuses are frequently observed, classification by types of confluence of sinuses can help surgeons in preoperative assessment, treatment, as well as in the prevention of possible
complications. Invasive procedures for patients with partial type of sinus drainage confluence or with “no confluence” type should be performed more carefully, due to possible unilateral jugular vein obstruction.
