| OBJECTIVE: To investigate the morphologic features of theextracranial venous system in patients with relapsing-remitting multiplesclerosis (RR-MS) by using three-dimensional time-resolved imaging ofcontrast kinetics (3D-Tricks).METHODS: Totally twenty-eight patients with RRMS（MS group）and19patients in the control group underwent3.0T MR scan using a3D-Tricks sequences. The jugular vessels were reconstructed withmulti-planar reformat (MPR) and maximum intensity projection (MIP)techniques. Morphologic features on axial of the internal jugular veins wereclassified in five categories based on the literature: absent (flow not visible),pinpoint, flattened, crescentic and ellipsoidal flow. Both absent andpinpoint flows were considered as stenosis. The symmetries of the internaljugular veins and characteristics of other jugular veins, including externaljugular veins, anterior jugular veins and vertebral veins were also analyzed. The morphologic features of the extracranial veins between MS and controlgroups were tested with2-tailed Fisher exact test.RESULTS:(1) The characteristics of internal jugular veins stenosis: Four of28MSpatients and2patients in control group showed internal jugular veinabnormalities. No significant difference was found in the internal jugularveins stenosis between MS and control groups (P＞0.05).(2) The characteristics of internal jugular vein asymmetry: Fourteen of28MS patients and10of19controls displayed internal jugular veinasymmetry and also no significant differences was seen (P＞0.05).(3) The results of the others jugular veins: No significant differenceswere found in characteristics of the others jugular veins (including externaljugular veins, anterior jugular veins and vertebral veins) between MSpatients and controls.CONCLUSION: No significant differences existed in theextracranial venous systems between MS patients and controls: theseresults did not support the chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiencytheory as an etiological factor in the development of MS. |
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