High-resolution susceptibility-weighted imaging for detecting cerebral venous thrombosis across various venous segments and disease stages

PurposeWe aimed to compare the performance of susceptibility-weighted imaging and standard magnetic resonance imaging sequences for cerebral venous thrombosis in diverse venous segments and disease stages.Materials and methodsWe compared the sensitivity of susceptibility-weighted imaging, T1-weighted imaging, T2-weighted imaging, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery in detecting cerebral venous thrombosis across various venous segments and disease stages. Additionally, the sensitivity of susceptibility-weighted imaging was compared with that of magnetic resonance venography for identifying cerebral venous thrombosis in different venous segments.ResultsThe study cohort comprised 33 lesions in the acute stage, 37 in the subacute stage, and 17 in the chronic stage. Susceptibility-weighted imaging demonstrated superior sensitivity, with values reaching 94% in the acute stage and 88% in the chronic stage, significantly outperforming the other three magnetic resonance imaging sequences <i>(p < </i>0.001 and <i>p</i> = 0.04, respectively). For the superior sagittal sinus, deep venous system, and cortical veins, susceptibility-weighted imaging achieved detection rates of 81% (17/21), 100% (5/5), and 100% (7/7), respectively, exceeding the values obtained using T1-weighted imaging, T2-weighted imaging, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (<i>p</i> = 0.02, <i>p</i> = 0.01, and <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively). However, in the subacute stage, T1-weighted imaging exhibited higher sensitivity than susceptibility-weighted imaging <i>(p = </i>0.02). Notably, susceptibility-weighted imaging showed better sensitivity than magnetic resonance venography in the evaluation of cortical veins (<i>p</i> = 0.02).ConclusionsSusceptibility-weighted imaging may offer heightened sensitivity in detecting cortical vein thrombosis during acute and chronic stages.