The "hyperdense basivertebral vein" sign: another marker of a CSF-venous fistula

Niklas Lützen; Nico Kremers; Christian Fung; Jürgen Beck; Horst Urbach

doi:10.1007/s00234-022-02908-x

The "hyperdense basivertebral vein" sign: another marker of a CSF-venous fistula

Neuroradiology. 2022 Mar;64(3):627-630. doi: 10.1007/s00234-022-02908-x. Epub 2022 Feb 1.

Authors

Niklas Lützen¹, Nico Kremers², Christian Fung³, Jürgen Beck³, Horst Urbach²

Affiliations

¹ Dept. of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany. niklas.luetzen@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
² Dept. of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
³ Dept. of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Abstract

CSF-venous fistulas - initially described in 2014 - are a significant cause of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Dynamic lateral decubitus digital subtraction and/or CT myelography typically show a hyperdense paraspinal vein. In case of a central drainage toward the internal vertebral venous plexus, it is the "hyperdense basivertebral vein" which should be searched for carefully.

Keywords: CSF leak; CSF-venous fistulas; Cerebrospinal fluid; Myelography; Spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

MeSH terms

Brachiocephalic Veins
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak / complications
Fistula* / complications
Humans
Intracranial Hypotension*
Myelography