[Trans-fontanellar Doppler sonography of the intracranial veins in infants--part I--Normal values]

Doppler sonographic flow measurements in the intracranial veins of infants are not often applied. For the understanding of intracranial pathology such as vascular malformations, intracranial hemorrhagic infarction and venous thrombosis, a thorough understanding of the anatomical position and of the normal flow profiles and flow velocities in intracranial veins is essential. We describe the normal anatomic course of the cerebral veins and their flow profiles and flow velocities in infants. In sagittal sections, the following veins can be shown by colour coded Doppler sonography and measured by pulsed Doppler sonography: The superior and inferior sagittal sinus, and the straight sinus as well as the internal cerebral vein, the vein of Galen and the thalamostriatic veins. In coronal sections, the medullary and subependymal veins, the terminal veins, the internal cerebral veins, the great vein of Galen, the superior sagittal, straight and transverse sinus can be demonstrated and measured.