Abnormal Venous Drainage in Craniosynostosis: A Scoping Review

This scoping review aims to systematically identify, categorize, and describe the types of abnormal cerebral venous drainage patterns reported in patients with craniosynostosis. Craniosynostosis, particularly in its syndromic forms, is frequently associated with variations in intracranial venous anatomy, which can have significant implications for diagnosis, surgical planning, and postoperative outcomes. However, the diversity in terminology, imaging techniques, and reporting practices across the literature presents challenges in understanding the full spectrum of venous anomalies encountered in these patients. To address this gap, the review will map the existing evidence on venous drainage anomalies, focusing on their anatomical classification, imaging modalities used for detection, and their relevance in clinical and surgical decision-making. Studies involving both syndromic and non-syndromic craniosynostosis patients will be included, provided that venous anomalies are reported based on neuroimaging findings such as MRV, CTV, DSA, or comparable techniques. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews, this review will include observational studies, case series, and case reports without restriction on publication date, but limited to English-language sources. Data will be extracted and synthesized narratively and in tabular form to provide a structured overview of reported anomalies and highlight areas where further research or consensus is needed.