Is there a relationship between the morphological characteristics of developmental venous anomalies and the presence of parenchymal abnormalities?

Objectives: Developmental venous anomaly (DVA) is a benign vascular malformation. Hyperintensity in the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence in the adjacent white matter has been previously identified. Although there are different theories, it is not yet clear why these hyperintensities occur. In this study, we aimed to investigate the factors affecting hyperintensity formation by examining the relationship between the morphological findings of DVA and the presence of FLAIR hyperintensity. Methods: The study included 84 cases diagnosed with DVA. Patients with susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) and/or postcontrast T1-weighted sequences in addition to conventional MRI sequences were included. The patients were divided into two groups as hyperintensity FLAIR (+) and FLAIR (-) in the examination performed around DVA. There were 24 patients in the FLAIR (+) group and 60 patients in the FLAIR (-) group. The localization of DVAs, drainage localization of the intramedullary vein, collector vein diameter, collector vein length, DVA location depth, and patient ages were compared between the two groups. Results: When examining the relationship between the groups and variables in the statistical evaluation, there was no difference between the groups in terms of DVA localization, the venous system of drainage, DVA depth, and the length of the collector vein. However, a significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of the collector vein diameter and age. Conclusions: The results of this study indicating a relationship between collector vein diameter and patient age. The relationship between this diameter and age suggests that there is a correlation between the degree and duration of venous congestion and the change in white matter.

___

  • Ruíz DS, Yilmaz H, Gailloud P. Cerebral developmental venous anomalies: current concepts. Ann Neurol 2009;66:271-83.
  • Lasjaunias P, Burrows P, Planet C. Developmental venous anomalies (DVA): the so-called venous angioma. Neurosurg Rev 1986;9:233-42.
  • Saito Y, Kobayashi N. Cerebral venous angiomas: clinical evaluation and possible etiology. Radiology 1981;139:87-94.
  • Wilson CB. Cryptic vascular malformations. Clin Neurosurg 1992;38:49-84.
  • Ruiz DS, Delavelle J, Yilmaz H, Gailloud P, Piovan E, Bertramello A, et al. Parenchymal abnormalities associated with developmental venous anomalies. Neuroradiology 2007;49:987-95.
  • Huber G, Henkes H, Hermes M, Felber S, Terstegge K, Piepgras U. Regional association of developmental venous anomalies with angiographically occult vascular malformations. Eur Radiol 1996;6:30-7.
  • Ostertun B, Solymosi L. Magnetic resonance angiography of cerebral developmental venous anomalies: its role in differential diagnosis. Neuroradiology 1993;35:97-104.
  • Ge Y, Zohrabian VM, Osa EO, Xu J, Jaggi H, Herbert J, et al. Diminished visibility of cerebral venous vasculature in multiple sclerosis by susceptibility-weighted imaging at 3.0 T J Magn Reson Imaging 2009;29:1190-4.
  • Santucci GM, Leach JL, Ying J, Leach SD, Tomsick TA. Brain parenchymal signal abnormalities associated with developmental venous anomalies: detailed MR imaging assessment. Am J Neuroradiol 2008;29:1317-23.
  • Aoki R, Srivatanakul K. Developmental venous anomaly: benign or not benign. Neurol Med Chir 2016;56:534-43.
  • Lee C, Pennington MA, Kenney CM 3rd. MR evaluation of DVAs: medullary venous anatomy of venous angiomas. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1996;17:61-70.
  • Noran HH. Intracranial vascular tumors and malformations. Arch Pathol 1945;39:403-4.
  • Maeder P, Gudinchet F, Meuli R, de Tribolet N. Development of a cavernous malformation of the brain. Am J Neuroradiol 1998;19:1141-3.
  • Campeau N, Lane J. De novo development of a lesion with the appearance of a cavernous malformation adjacent to an existing developmental venous anomaly. Am J Neuroradiol 2005;26:156-9.
  • Pereira VM, Geibprasert S, Krings T, Aurboonyawat T, Ozanne A, Toulgoat F, et al. Pathomechanisms of symptomatic developmental venous anomalies. Stroke 2008;39:3201-15.
  • Rogers DM, Shah LM, Wiggins RH. The central vein: FLAIR signal abnormalities associated with developmental venous anomalies in patients with multiple sclerosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2018;39:2007-13.
  • Camacho DL, Smith JK, Grimme JD, Keyserling HF, Castillo M. Atypical MR imaging perfusion in developmental venous anomalies. Am J Neuroradiol 2004;25:1549-52.
  • Kroll H, Soares BP, Saloner D, Dillon WP, Wintermark M. Perfusion-CT of developmental venous anomalies: typical and atypical hemodynamic patterns. J Neuroradiol 2010;37:239-42.