Abstract:

Objective　To correlate microanatomy of posterior segment of basal vein with its venograms, in order to provide a basis for the preservation of basal vein during the posterior incisural space route. 　Methods　 A total of 20 human cadavers (40 sides) and 42 patients (80 sides) were examined in this study. Each head of the cadavers was injected with blue gelatin via the superior sagittal sinus and internal jugular veins. The venograms of each patient was obtained from the venous phases of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) (40 sides out of 22 patients) or computed tomographic venography (CTV) (40 sides out of 20 patients). Results　Compared to the cadaver dissection, DSA and CTV revealed 89.79% and 94.89% of basal vein respectively, because the diameter of the veins depicted by the imageology were larger than that of anatomic dissection about 37.28% and 36.72% respectively. In this study, the dural entrence of basal vein were clustered along the medial segment of Galen's vein，the initiative segment of Galen's vein and the end of internal cerebral vein. DSA, CTV can reflect the regulation of the dural entrence of basal vein.　Conclusions　The preoperative venogram is useful for designing the individualized surgical approach for the preservation of basal vein.

Key words: Basal vein, Posterior area of tentorial notch incisura, Microdissection, Imageology