Developmental venous anomalies of the posterior fossa with transpontine drainage: report of 3 cases |
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Authors: | W Küker M Mull A Thron |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Neuroradiology, Technical University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52 057 Aachen, Germany, DE |
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Abstract: | Developmental venous anomalies (DVA) are considered as variant patterns of cerebral venous drainage. Although generally not
rare in the cerebellum, DVA of the brain stem or of the cerebellum with drainage through the brain stem are exceptional findings.
Because it is not clear whether DVA may sometimes be of clinical significance, we try to correlate the clinical findings of
the patients with the course of the variant vessels. We reviewed the literature and report three additional cases. All patients
were examined by MRI and digital subtraction angiography. In particular, we discuss the drainage route as compared with the
established patterns of posterior fossa blood drainage, which is directed to the dural sinuses, the petrosal vein or the vein
of Galen. In one of our patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia, the close topical relation of the DVA and the trigeminal
nucleus and trigeminal nerve entry zone suggests a causal relationship. In a second case the brain stem symptoms were due
to haemorrhage of a concomitant cavernoma. It remains unclear if the occurrence of dysarthria and dysaesthesia in the third
patient with brain stem DVA was purely coincidental. The only clinical symptom directly attributable to a DVA with transpontine
drainage in our series was trigeminal neuralgia.
Received 11 April 1996; Revision received 8 August 1996; Accepted 2 October 1996 |
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Keywords: | : DVA Brain stem MRI Clinical symptoms Trigeminal neuralgia |
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