Diagnostic Value of Susceptibility Weighted Imaging in Sinus Venous Thrombosis

Magnetic resonance venography based on susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) utilizes deoxygenated hemoglobin in veins as an intrinsic contrast medium. Magnetic susceptibility difference between deoxygenated hemoglobin, oxygenated hemoglobin and parenchyma lead to an excellent venous contrast. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the different magnetic resonance imaging sequences and susceptibility weighted imaging in the visualization of sinus venous thrombosis. This cross-sectional study was performed in Shafa Medical Imaging Center in Isfahan City, Iran, from August 2013 to September 2014 and 12 patients with sinus venous thrombosis were analyzed using MRI, SWI, and Phase contrast-magnetic resonance venography (PC-MRV). In all patients, sub-acute superior sagittal sinus, transverse and sigmoid sinuses thrombosis was most successfully detected during the susceptibility weighted imaging. In only one case, the sub-acute left transverse and sigmoid sinuses and left jugular vein of thrombosis was discernible with T1W. In 6 patients, sinus venous thrombosis was discernible with T2W in the sub-acute stage. PC-MRV showed the acute and sub-acute sinus venous thrombosis in all patients. Susceptibility weighted imaging has a high diagnostic value for detecting sub-acute superior sagittal sinus, transverse and sigmoid sinuses thrombosis.