Evaluation of CT and MRI in the diagnosis of cerebral venous malformation

Objective: To assess the diagnostic value of CT and MRI for cerebral venous malformation(CVM).Methods: The CT and MRI results of 17 CVM patients were analyzed retrospectively,15 examined by MRI(including 2 cases of 2D-TOF MRV and 3cases of 3D-TOF MRA) and 8 by CT scanning(including 2 cases of precontrast scan,4 cases of postcontrast scan and 2 cases of CTA).Results: Among the 17 patients,21 places of CVM(7 supratentorial and 14 infratentorial) were observed,4 complicated by sponge-like hemangioma.As the characteristic Caput Medusas imaging appearance of CVM,numerous radiation medullary veins gathered in one or two larger drain veins and flowed into superficial or deeper veins,which were shown in all the contrast-enhanced CT and MRI images or CTA and MRV.CT plain scan gave no positive findings in any of the cases.Conclusion: Cerebral venous malformation is the commonest cerebral vascular malformation with typical imaging appearance.Contrast-enhanced CT,CTA and MR imaging can show CVM clearly,and MRI is the first-choice imaging for the detection of other complicated brain parenchymal abnormalities.