Magnetic resonance venography study of venous structures of the transverse-sigmoid sinus region in the Han Chinese population: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Venous structures of the transverse-sigmoid sinus region have been insufficiently studied by magnetic resonance venography, especially in the healthy Han Chinese population.

Methods: Magnetic resonance venography data were reconstructed. The relevant parameters were recorded. A paired t-test was used to compare the diameters of the inferior petrous sinus at the origin and termination. An unpaired t-test, a chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare other data.

Results: One hundred healthy participants were included. The average age was 36.6 ± 17.1 years, and the ratio of males to females was 1:1. The development of the transverse-sigmoid sinus had a right-sided predominance in 51% of patients. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the lengths of bilateral TSs, the lengths of bilateral partial TSs from the torcular to lateral tentorial sinus, the diameters between bilateral TSs at the origin and the lateral tentorial sinus, the diameters between bilateral TS-sigmoid sinus junctions and sigmoid sinus terminations, and the inferior petrous sinus diameters at the origin and termination. Statistical analysis revealed that the right lateral tentorial sinus was more likely to originate from the TS (p < 0.05). Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences (p < 0.05) between transverse-sigmoid sinus development and inferior petrous sinus continuity or between transverse-sigmoid sinus development and inferior petrous sinus continuity and bilateral inferior petrous sinus continuity.

Conclusions: This study revealed that the right transverse-sigmoid sinus was predominantly larger in diameter, the torcular Herophili tended to deviate to the right, and the right lateral tentorial sinus tended to drain into the TS. The inferior petrous sinus at the origin was thicker than that at the termination, and the right inferior petrous sinus was thicker than the left inferior petrous sinus. transverse-sigmoid sinus development had no effect on inferior petrous sinus continuity, and there was no difference in inferior petrous sinus continuity between the left and right sides.