Morphometric evaluation of dural venous sinuses: anatomical study with its implications in surgical interventions

Abstract Introduction: Knowledge of the normal anatomical variations of venous sinuses is important for clinicians and radiologist for investigations and diagnosing various pathologies of dural venous sinuses like thrombosis, embolism and fistula etc. The detailed morphometric study of dural venous sinuses is missing in academic literature. Although few radiological studies have been done in the past but direct anatomical proof in the form of cadaveric study of dural venous sinuses is not available in the literature. Methods: The present study involved the examination of superior sagittal sinus, sigmoid sinus, transverse sinus, straight sinus and occipital sinus in 12 dura maters of formaldehyde fixed cadavers. The length and width (at midpoint and near confluences) of these sinuses and width of confluences were measured with venire callipers. Results: Some remarkable findings were observed in this study. It was established that the width of torcular herophilus is directly proportional to length of superior sagittal sinus and is also directly proportional to length of right sigmoid sinus. Torcular herophilus is situated away from right sigmoid sinus with intervening right transverse sinus and still its width is directly proportional to length of right sigmoid sinus. Also it was observed that the length of straight sinus was directly proportional to length of right transverse sinus. Right sigmoid sinus is a continuation of right transverse sinus but its width increases with increase in width of left transverse sinus. Length of left sigmoid sinus was directly proportional to length of right but width of left sigmoid sinus and vice a versa. Width of left sigmoid sinus is directly proportional to the length of right and left sigmoid sinus. Conclusion: It is extrapolated that this study will be valuable to neurosurgeons for preoperative planning and clinicians and radiologist to prevent misdiagnosis.