A comparative study of conventional magnetic resonance sequences with 2D time of flight sequence versus contrast enhanced magnetic resonance venography in diagnosing cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Abstract

Background: The present study aimed to compare the accuracy between conventional MRV with 2D Time of Flight sequence versus contrast enhanced MRV in Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Materials and methods: This was a hospital based ambispective study that was conducted from Jan 2021 to Jun 2022 in Department of Radiodiagnosis in Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute (MGMCRI), Pondicherry after obtaining approval from Ethical Committee. Patients admitted in MGMCRI as clinically suspected cases of CVT was included for the study. It was an ambispective study, so included records of patients retrospectively from JAN 2019 to DEC 2020 and prospectively from JAN 2021 to MAY 2022 in Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute. Results:The study was conducted as a hospital based ambispective study comprising 30 patients of either sex. Majority of the study participants were in the age group of less than 25 years and were females (73.3%). Majority of the female study participants were in puerperium. Majority of the study patients had headache on presentation (73.3%). Sensitivity and specificity of MR TOF in diagnosing SSS thrombosis was 92.31% and 50% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of MR TOF in diagnosing LS thrombosis was 79.17% and 33.33% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of MR TOF in diagnosing STS thrombosis was 100% and 34.78% respectively. Conclusion: Multicentric large scale studies involving patients from different backgrounds of variable demography was required to clearly establish the accuracy of MRI investigations. The performance of contrast enhanced 3D MRV was superior in terms of picture quality and evaluation of all sinuses and veins. The findings of our study contributed to the body of data supporting the advantages of contrast enhanced 3D MR venography over 2D TOF MR Venography in the routine clinical diagnosis or exclusion of acute CVT.