MR Appearances and Its Diagnostic Value in Cerebral Venous Malformation

Objective To discuss MRI features of cerebral venous malformation (CVM), and assess the diagnostic value of different sequence.Materials and Methods 8 cases with CVM verified by surgery were analyzed respectively, conventional MRI and 3DMOTSA MRA were performed in 8 cases with CVM. 6 cases were underwent with enhanced MR, and 3 of them were underwent additional 3D CEMOTSA MRA. Results 4 cases were located in cerebellum and 4 cases in frontal lobe, parietal lobe and occipital lobe. On MRI drain veins were demonstrated as hypointensity on T_1WI and T_2WI in 5 cases, hypointensity on T_1WI and hyperintensity on T_2WI in 3 cases, dilated medullary veins were shown as hypointensity on T_1WI and hyperintensity on T_2WI. After enhancement, numerous radiating medullary veins were gathered together into one or two larger drain veins and flowed into superficial or deeper veins, so called “Caput Medussa” appearance. 3DMOTSA MRA showed partial drain veins, the number of medullary was less depicted. 3DMOTSA CE MRA could show the whole length of drain veins in 3 cases, the number of medullary veins were much depicted.Conclusion MRI could clearly diagnose complications of CVM and fetch up deficiency of cerebral angiography. 3DMOTSA CE MRA could replace of cerebral angiography.