Peripheral segment of the cerebral cortical vein: a magnetic resonance imaging study

There have been no anatomic reports documenting the peripheral segments of the cerebral cortical veins (PSCVs). This study aimed to explore them using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

A total of 100 patients underwent thin-sliced coronal T2-weighted MRI, 2.0 mm in thickness, performed in both the supine and prone positions. For comparison, two cadaveric heads were dissected to observe the PSCVs.

In the dissected hemispheres, the PSCVs were consistently attached to the lateral surfaces of the cerebral gyri. In 100 patients who underwent MRI, the PSCVs were attached variably to the cerebral gyri or bottom of the sulci, in subdivided cerebral areas. The length and thickness of the PSCVs showed high variability. Compared to the medial two-thirds of the middle cerebral part, the PSCVs were more frequently found in the medial two-thirds of the anterior cerebral part. Also, compared to the medial two-thirds of the posterior cerebral region, PSCVs were more frequent in the medial two-thirds of the middle cerebral region. Furthermore, the PSCVs and attached cerebral gyri did not undergo any morphological alterations or displacement in response to positional changes from the supine to the prone position.

PSCVs may be most frequently distributed over the anteromedial cerebral hemisphere, followed by the middle part of the hemisphere. In the cranial cavity, these veins may serve to anchor the cerebral hemisphere floating in the cerebrospinal fluid.