MRI of the epidural space after Gelatin/Gadolinium venous injection

Abstract

The head and vertebral column from two human cadavers were injected with a solution of gelatin and gadolinium (Dotarem) and imaged using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Comparisons between gross anatomic slices and corresponding images of the lumbar vertebral column confirmed the usefulness of a paramagnetic agent for visualising the epidural venous plexus. This technique provides accurate images of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Anatomical and radiological evidence for the iliolumbar vein as an inferior lumbar venous system

“…In Figure 36.4 (Abrams, 1961, p 604), he described two left ALVs as longitudinal channels with one lateral to the pedicles and the other medial to the pedicles, and thus residing inside the vertebral canal. With the modern description of the vertebral venous plexus, the vein inside the vertebral canal is part of the IVVP, and the longitudinal channel is often named lateral part of the IVVP (Gillot, 1980(Gillot, , 1993Plaisant et al, 1994Plaisant et al, , 1996Plaisant et al, , 1998Plaisant et al, , 2001Groen et al, 1997Groen et al, , 2005. The lumbar veins outside the vertebral canal are part of the external vertebral venous plexus.…”

“…A male cadaver (82 years old) was injected, in accordance with the technique described previously by Plaisant et al (1994Plaisant et al ( , 1996. After exposure of the thorax and the azygos vein by dissection, and following perfusion with The components of the iliolumbar vein, left inferior lumbar, and SIVs, drained separately into the left common iliac vein and the internal iliac vein, respectively.…”

Positional Venous MR Angiography: An Operator-Independent Tool to Evaluate Cerebral Venous Outflow Hemodynamics

“…The variability is not surprising because cervical veins show multiple interconnections. 8,13 Unlike head and neck arteries, which are anatomically well-defined vessels, the veins of the vertebral venous plexus contributing to the cerebral blood outflow are less defined vessels and show multiple interconnections.…”

Anatomy of the epidural space

“…The fat pads are tethered loosely to the walls of the spinal canal and so injected solution such as contrast or local anaesthetic can compress the fat pad and this gives the impression of membranes or septae within the epidural space when imaged by epiduroscopy or CT epidurograms. Both Hogan 13 and Plaisant 14 have studied the anterior epidural space and have shown it to be a complex and segmented compartment. There is a medial and lateral anterior venous plexus, which is partially incorporated into layers of the PLL.…”