Subarachnoid cisterns - What the radiologist needs to know.

This poster is published under an open license. Please read the disclaimer for further details.

Congress:

ECR 2016

Poster Number:

C-0264

Type:

Educational Exhibit

Keywords:

Anatomy, CNS, CT, MR, eLearning, Normal variants, Cerebrospinal fluid

Authors:

D. Eiroa¹, P. N. Nuñez Vila², V. Vázquez Sánchez², E. Alventosa Fernández², C. González²; ¹Santa Cruz de Tenerife/ES, ²Tenerife/ES

DOI:

10.1594/ecr2016/C-0264

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.1594/ecr2016/C-0264

Table 1: Liliequist classification of the subarachnoid cisterns.

Fig. 2: Sagital T1 Magnetic resonance showing the following cisterns (translucent...

Fig. 3: Gadolinium-enhanced T1 weighted axial image showing the cistern of the lamina...

Fig. 4: T1 weighted axial MR image of the perimesencephalic cisterns in color overlay....

Learning objectives

To show radiology residents the basic anatomy and the imaging features of the subarachnoid space, with special emphasis on the subarachnoidcisterns, and also to serve as a review for more experienced radiologists.

Background

The meninges are the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord and consist of three layers: the dura mater, the arachnoid mater and the pia mater. The subarachnoid space is the anatomic space between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater. It is narrow due to the close adherence between those two layers. It contains cerebrospinal fluid as well as vascular and nervous elements.The subarachnoid cisterns are cerebrospinal fluid-filled regions of the subarachnoid space created by the separation of theaforementioned layers.

Findings and procedure details

There are a few proposed classification systems for the subarachnoid cisterns. One of the most used is the Liliequist classification of CSF cisterns, that separates them in ventral, dorsal and communicating cisterns. A description of the classification is provided inTable 1 . Below, the reader can find a detailed description of each of the cisterns referred inTable 1: VENTRAL CISTERNS Chiasmatic or supra-sellar cistern:this cistern lies superiorly to the sellar diaphragm (part of the subarachnoid space goes through the infundibular orifice and forms a small...

Conclusion

The understanding of the radiologic anatomy of the subarachnoid cisterns is important not only as a basic anatomy knowledge but also for radiologists to be able to correctly interpret pathological findings.

Personal information

References

1. Ernesto Roldán Valadez, Sandra Osorio Peralta, María Teresa Facha, Manuel Martínez López, Jesús Taboada Barajas. Anatomía radiológica del espacio subaracnoideo: Las Cisternas. Revisión. Anales de Radiología México 2005;1:27-34. 2. Lang J. Topographic Anatomy of preformed intracranial spaces. Acta Neuroch Suppl (Wien). 1992; 54:1-10. 3. Rhoton AL Jr. The posterior fossa cisterns. Neurosurgery. 2000 sep; 47(3 suppl):s287–s297.