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Child's Nervous System
Published in: Child's Nervous System 4/2019

01-04-2019 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Original Article

Vertebral artery segment at the suboccipital dural penetration site: an anatomical study using magnetic resonance imaging

Authors: Satoshi Tsutsumi, Hideo Ono, Hisato Ishii, Yukimasa Yasumoto

Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 4/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

The morphology of the vertebral artery (VA) segment at the suboccipital dural penetration site has little been explored with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the structure using MRI.

Methods

In total, 94 patients underwent thin-sliced, contrast MRI in the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes involving the atlas, axis, occipital bone, and V3 and V4 segments of the VA.

Results

The VA segment at the suboccipital dural penetration site was well-delineated in 93% on the axial images and in 95% on the coronal images. The axial images showed that 82% of the VA penetration sites were located in the middle third of the dural sac. Meanwhile, the coronal images revealed that the heights of both VA penetration sites were located at the same level in 87%. The axial VA penetration angle, which is formed by the VA and tangential line of the dural sac, was 66 ± 11.9° on the right side and 61 ± 14.1° on the left side. The coronal VA penetration angle, which is formed by the tangential line of the VA and dural sac, was 111 ± 24.6° on the right side and 112 ± 19.9° on the left side.

Conclusions

The morphology of the VA segment is considerably variable at the suboccipital dural penetration site, while most penetration sites are located in the middle third of the dural sac on axial MRI. These should be assumed during surgeries around the suboccipital VA penetration site.
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Metadata
Title
Vertebral artery segment at the suboccipital dural penetration site: an anatomical study using magnetic resonance imaging
Authors
Satoshi Tsutsumi
Hideo Ono
Hisato Ishii
Yukimasa Yasumoto
Publication date
01-04-2019
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Child's Nervous System / Issue 4/2019
Print ISSN: 0256-7040
Electronic ISSN: 1433-0350
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-019-04103-5

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