Diagnostic value of MRI in cerebral venous malformation

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of MRI in cerebral venous malformations(CVM).Methods:18 patients of CVM were collected,and all of them underwent T1WI,T2WI,FLAIR,SWI,DWI,MRA,and T1WI enhancement scans.Results:CVMs were located in infra in five cases,and supra tentorium in thirteen eleven patients.Eighteen presented the typical caput medusae appearance.As for MRI plain scans,the medullary veins showed hypointensity in T1WI and hyperintensity in T2WI,while,the drainage veins featured hyperintensity in T1WI and hyperintensity in T2WI.FLAIR sequences manifested less medullary veins with hyperintensity and drainage veins with hypointensity or hyperintensity.Both the medullary and the drainage veins appeared hypointensity in DWI and SWI.After enhancement,numerous radiating medullary veins gathered together into one or two larger drainage veins and flowed into superficial or deeper veins,demonstrating the so-called Caput Medusae appearance.Conclusion:MRI is the first choice for suspected CVM patients thus providing more diagnostic information.T1WI enhancement and SWI are sensitive to manifesting CVMs.SWI diagnosis of CVM is significantly superior to conventional MRI sequences.