关键词: 数字减影血管造影, 颅内静脉窦, 窦汇, 解剖

Abstract:

Objective　The aims of this study were to evaluate the anatomy of the confluence of sinuses and to assess their clinical significance using digital subtraction angiography(DSA).　Method　The confluence of sinuses and its relevant venous sinuses were analyzed using bilateral carotid and vertebral artery angiography in 203 adults. We evaluated the anatomy of the sinuses near the confluence, including the patterns of drainage of the superior sagital sinus(SSS) into the transverse sinus(TS) and  the drainage of the straight sinus(SS) into the TS, the drainage type of the bilateral TS, the comparison of size between the bilateral TS , the communication type of the bilateral TS and the occurrence rate of the occipital sinus(OS).　Results　The drainage pattern of the SSS into the TS could be classified into four types: Sc typein 61 cases, accounting for 30.0%, Sd type in 58 cases, accounting for 28.6%, Sr type in 71 cases, accounting for 35.0%, and Sl type in 13 cases, accounting for 6.4%. The drainage pattern of the SS into the TS could be classified into three types: Rc type in 138 cases, accounting for, 68.0% (138 cases), Rr type in 37 cases, accounting for 18.2%, and Rl type in 28 cases, accounting for 13.8%. The drainage type of the bilateral TS could be classified into five types: equal drainage in 74 cases, accounting for 36.4%,  drainage mainly from the right side in 99 cases, accounting for 48.8%, drainage mainly from the left side in 12 cases, accounting for 5.9%, drainage limited to the right side in 14 cases, accounting for 6.9%（14 cases）, drainage limited to the left side in 4 cases, accounting for 2.0%. Conclusion　DSA is an accurate and reliable method to evaluate the confluence and its relevant venous sinuses. It can provide useful information for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of cerebral venous disease and certain surgical intervention.

Key words: Digital subtraction angiography, Cerebral venous sinuses, Confluence of sinuses, Anatomy