OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe the diagnostic accuracy of the dilatation of the inferior intercavernous sinus as a sign of intracranial hypotension and to raise awareness of this anatomic structure, which can be mistaken for a focal pituitary lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sagittal T1-weighted images of 26 patients with intracranial hypotension and 28 control subjects were evaluated to determine the presence of a distended inferior intercavernous sinus. Information about the shape, size, and signal of the inferior intercavernous sinus was also collected. The chi-square test was used to compare both groups. Sensitivity and specificity of the dilatation of the inferior intercavernous sinus as a sign of intracranial hypotension were calculated. RESULTS: A visible inferior intercavernous sinus was found in 13 of 26 patients with intracranial hypotension (50%) and in four of 28 control subjects (14.3%). These percentages were significantly different (p = 0.005). There was no significant difference in size of the inferior intercavernous sinus in the intracranial hypotension group (median, 5.86 mm(2); interquartile range, 6.28 mm(2)) compared with the control group (median, 8.25 mm(2); interquartile range, 16.69 mm(2)). Changes in the size of the inferior intercavernous sinus were detected in congruence with the appearance or resolution of intracranial hypotension. CONCLUSION: Dilatation of the inferior intercavernous sinus is frequently associated with intracranial hypotension, although it can also be found in the healthy adult as a normal anatomic variant. Recognition of this anatomic structure is important to avoid mistaking it for a focal pituitary lesion.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe the diagnostic accuracy of the dilatation of the inferior intercavernous sinus as a sign of intracranial hypotension and to raise awareness of this anatomic structure, which can be mistaken for a focal pituitary lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sagittal T1-weighted images of 26 patients with intracranial hypotension and 28 control subjects were evaluated to determine the presence of a distended inferior intercavernous sinus. Information about the shape, size, and signal of the inferior intercavernous sinus was also collected. The chi-square test was used to compare both groups. Sensitivity and specificity of the dilatation of the inferior intercavernous sinus as a sign of intracranial hypotension were calculated. RESULTS: A visible inferior intercavernous sinus was found in 13 of 26 patients with intracranial hypotension (50%) and in four of 28 control subjects (14.3%). These percentages were significantly different (p = 0.005). There was no significant difference in size of the inferior intercavernous sinus in the intracranial hypotension group (median, 5.86 mm(2); interquartile range, 6.28 mm(2)) compared with the control group (median, 8.25 mm(2); interquartile range, 16.69 mm(2)). Changes in the size of the inferior intercavernous sinus were detected in congruence with the appearance or resolution of intracranial hypotension. CONCLUSION: Dilatation of the inferior intercavernous sinus is frequently associated with intracranial hypotension, although it can also be found in the healthy adult as a normal anatomic variant. Recognition of this anatomic structure is important to avoid mistaking it for a focal pituitary lesion.
Authors: Conor Fearon; Sapna Rawal; Diana Olszewska; Paula Alcaide-Leon; Drew S Kern; Soumya Sharma; Shyam K Jaiswal; Jagarlapudi M K Murthy; Ainhi D Ha; Raymond S Schwartz; Victor S C Fung; Chauncey Spears; Tracy Tholanikunnel; Leonardo Almeida; Taku Hatano; Yutaka Oji; Nobutaka Hattori; Shantanu Shubham; Hrishikesh Kumar; Roongroj Bhidayasiri; Christopher Laohathai; Anthony E Lang Journal: Mov Disord Clin Pract Date: 2022-02-03
Authors: Ali S Haider; Suraj Sulhan; Ian T Watson; Dean Leonard; Eliel N Arrey; Umair Khan; Phu Nguyen; Kennith F Layton Journal: Cureus Date: 2017-02-16