Intraluminal anatomy of the transverse sinus: implications for endovascular therapy

Abstract

Trabeculae or septations in the transverse sinus can have potentially life-threatening clinical significance. The current study demonstrates trabecula/septum patterning within the transverse sinus with measurements and distribution data supplemented by imaging, and describes the possible etiology of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and turbulent blood flow in the transverse sinus. Twenty-four sides from 12 cadaveric heads, all fresh-frozen, were used (five males, seven females; age at death 65–91 years, mean 79.1 years). The length and diameter of the transverse sinus were measured along with the number and locations of septations/trabeculae and their tensile strength. The mean length of the transverse sinus was 68.43 mm on the right side and 74.31 mm on the left. A total of 42 septations were found in the 24 transverse sinuses. The number of septations per side ranged from zero to four with a mean of 1.75. The septations were located in the proximal 1/3 in 54.8% (23/42), the middle 1/3 in 21.4% (9/42), and the distal 1/3 in 23.8% (10/42). The work presented here furthers our understanding of transverse sinus anatomy, including its detailed internal architecture. The measurements can provide a technical guide for neurosurgeons and influence instrument selection when a large thrombus forms or anchors in one of these trabeculae or septa and necessitates treatment.

Introduction

Among the dural venous sinuses that function as a web of venous passages for draining blood from the brain, the right and left transverse sinuses exclusively drain blood arising from the superficial and deep aspects of the brain, respectively. The right transverse sinus is typically larger than the left because it drains most of the blood from superficial portions of the brain. The transverse sinus originates in the posterior cranial fossa at the junction of the superior sagittal, straight, and occipital sinuses, termed the ‘confluence of sinuses’ or torcular Herophili [1, 2].

Cases of trabeculae or septations in the transverse sinus have been observed with potentially life-threatening clinical significance. Strydom et al. [3] reported that 29.4% of 102 cadavers and patients presented with such trabeculae or septa and concluded that these entailed a potential for defects in venous filling, further indicating the role of transverse sinus anatomy in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Subramaniam et al. [4] found that septations in the transverse sinus could affect blood drainage, causing turbulence and therefore potentially leading to thrombosis or thromboembolism.

The present paper describes trabecular and septational patterning in the transverse sinus with measurements and distribution supplemented by imaging, and describes a potential etiology of IIH and turbulent blood flow in the transverse sinus.

Materials and Methods

The anatomical quality assurance checklist was used for this study [5]. Twenty-four sides from eleven Caucasian and one Asian cadaveric heads, all fresh-frozen, were used (five males and seven females, age at death 65^–91 years, mean 79.1). The specimens were placed in supine position, a circumferential incision was made 1 cm above the orbital margin, and a craniotomy was performed using an electric bone saw (Stryker Inc., Kalamazoo, MI, USA). All the supratentorial neural structures were dissected and removed to expose the entire transverse sinus, the length and diameter of which were recorded using the bifurcation at the level of the torcular Herophili as the origin and the curvature at the transverse-sigmoid sinus junction as it entered the petrous bone as the terminus. The transverse sinus was then transected entirely to expose its inner architecture. The number, locations, tensile strength, and positions of the septations inside the sinus were recorded. All measurements were made with microcalipers (Mitutoyo Co., Kanagawa, Japan) and a tensometer (M2-200; MARK-10 Co., Copiague, NY, USA). Statistical analysis between sides and sex were performed using Student t-tests with significance set at P<0.05.

Results

Transverse sinus septations were defined as intraluminal trabeculations arising from either the lateral or the medial aspect of the sinus wall and transecting the space. For better understanding, the sinus was divided into three parts (proximal, medial, and distal), distinguished by the points at which it changes direction (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

Right transverse sinus dissected in its entirety. Septations are seen in the middle 1/3 and distal 1/3 (blue arrows). FM, foramen magnum; SSS, superior sagittal sinus; TVS, transverse sinus.

Measurements of transverse sinuses

The mean length of the transverse sinus was 68.4±16.5 mm (range, 19.5–80.4 mm) on the right side and 74.3±4.6 mm (range, 66.02–80.2 mm) on the left (P=0.18). There were no significant sex (P=0.21) or side differences (P=0.18) regarding the length.

The mean diameter was 6.2±1.3 mm (range, 2.5–7.6 mm) on right sides and 6.3±0.7 mm (range, 5.3–7.3 mm) on left sides. There were no significant sex (P=0.13) or side differences (P=0.78) regarding diameter.

One specimen, a 75-year-old female Caucasian, presented with a hypoplastic right transverse sinus that measured 19.5 mm in length and 2.5 mm in diameter (less than half that of the other specimens).

Septations within the transverse sinuses

A total of 42 septations were found in the 24 transverse sinuses studied. The number of septations per side was one in 29.2% (7/24), two in 33.3% (8/24), three in 20.8% (5/24), four in 4.2% (1/24), and none in 12.5% (3/24), with a mean of 1.75 (Fig. 2). One specimen presented no septation in either the left or right transverse sinus; one had none on the right side (hypotrophic) but three on the left.

Fig. 2.

Number of septations in the transverse sinus per side.

The septations were most commonly located where the sinus changed direction. Most of them were at either end of the transverse sinus: 54.8% (23/42) in the proximal 1/3, 21.4% (9/42) in the middle 1/3, and 23.8% (10/42) in the distal 1/3 (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3.

Location of septations within the transverse sinuses.

The mean tensile strength of the septations was 7.8±2.4 N (range, 4–11 N) for the right transverse sinus and 6.3±2.7 N (range, 3–11 N) for the left. There were no significant sex (P=0.78) or side differences (P=0.21) in regard to the tensile strength.

Discussion

The cerebral venous system is far more variable than the cerebral arterial system, differing not only among individuals but also between hemispheres in the same brain. This makes it difficult to classify the cerebral veins [6, 7]. In contrast to the arterial system, the venous drainage of the brain is only partly understood. Most authors agree that it can be divided, according to its relationship to the cortex, into dural venous sinuses (superficial circulation) and deep cerebral veins (deep circulation) [8].

The dural venous sinuses are important for regulating normal venous drainage. Small changes in posture can translate into significant changes in blood flow, redirecting drainage through the internal jugular vein or the vertebral veins [9, 10]. Postural change is a key regulator of blood flow in the pathological brain, as in cases of traumatic brain injury, IIH, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and stroke, serving not only as bedside assessment but also as a therapeutic option [11].

The right transverse sinus is usually larger than the left and asymmetry of the transverse sinuses is not uncommon [12]. Unilateral hypoplasia or aplasia, which was also found in the present study, can be observed in 20% to 39% of cases [12-14]. In this study, the mean diameter of the transverse sinus was 6.21 mm and 6.30 mm on right and left sides, respectively. Thus, the morphology of the transverse sinus is variable.

Subramaniam et al. [4] investigated the relationship between transverse sinus stenosis and internal septations, providing a solid basis for a hypothesis about IIH and presenting results similar to ours, though not all variables (such as tensile strength and specific locations of the septations within the sinus) were recorded [4]. Other studies examining the variability of sinus wall thickness across its course showed it to be thickest at the level of the torcular Herophili and thinnest at the level of the superior jugular bulb and sigmoid sinus [15].

To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the architectural components inside the transverse sinus in detail, including the tensile strength of the trabeculae and septations. Furthermore, measurements of the diameter and length of the sinus could elucidate the difference between intracranial and dural venous pressures, which is important in venous collapse in both normal and pathological states [16]. This new evidence provides a better anatomical and physiological understanding of why and where progressive collapse of the transverse sinus occurs secondary to increased intracranial pressure [17].

Implications in intracranial hypertension states and endovascular pathology

The transverse and sigmoid sinuses are known sites for endovascular stent placement for treating IIH, sinus stenosis and sinus thrombosis. During a progressive increase of intracranial pressure the transverse sinus undergoes progressive collapse. The tensile strength values we obtained for the inner septations of the transverse sinus suggest that these septations help to stabilize and maintain the three-dimensional structure of the sinus where the need for support is greatest, i.e., in areas of high hemodynamic stress such the locations of highest curvature.

Our diameter and length measurements are consistent with those reported in the literature and could easily be translated into estimating turbulent versus laminar flow in the sinus when complemented with blood pressure and hematocrit values [18]. These measurements are particularly useful during endovascular procedures where a stent is placed in the sinus lumen as a treatment option for IIH [19-21]. Our findings could help in thrombectomy planning, since a thrombus formed within one of the large trabeculae or septations would not resolve completely with conventional thrombolysis and could lead to infarction [4].

In conclusion, the work presented here furthers our understanding of transverse sinus anatomy, including its detailed internal architecture. The measurements in the current study could serve as a technical guide for neurosurgeons, and could influence instrument selection when a large thrombus is formed or attached to one of these trabeculae or septa and requires treatment. Further clinical studies should examine a possible connection between the intravascular septae of the transverse sinus and sinus thrombosis formation or IIH.