Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34221580›Full record

ArticleSurgical neurology international2021

Magnetic resonance imaging analysis of human skull diploic venous anatomy.

Abdullah Alarfaj, Tejas Sankar, Ravi Bhargava, Jonathan Tyler, Anil Walji, Richard Fox, Aziz Sagga, Abdullah Ishaque, Keith Aronyk

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Surgical neurology international, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 40% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Abdullah AlarfajDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
Tejas SankarDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
Ravi BhargavaDepartment of Radiology, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
Jonathan TylerDepartment of Tyler Research Corporation, Alberta, Canada.
Anil WaljiDepartment of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
Richard FoxDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
Aziz SaggaDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
Abdullah IshaqueDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
Keith AronykDepartment of Neurosurgery, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
University of Alberta · CAKing Faisal University · SA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe skull diploic venous space (DVS) represents a potential route for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion and absorption in the treatment of hydrocephalus. The goal of this study was to carry out a detailed characterization of the drainage pattern of the DVS of the skull using high-resolution MRI, especially the diploic veins draining to the lacunae laterales (LLs) since the LLs constitute an important channel for the CSF to access the superior sagittal sinus and subsequently the systemic circulation. The objective was to identify those skull regions optimally suited for an intraosseous CSF diversion system.

methodsHigh-resolution, T1-weighted MRI scans from 20 adult and 16 pediatric subjects were selected for analysis. Skulls were divided into four regions, that is, frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital. On each scan, a trained observer counted all diploic veins in every skull region. Each diploic vein was also followed to determine its final drainage pathway (i.e., dural venous sinus, dural vein, LL, or indeterminate).

resultsIn the adult age group, the frontal and occipital skull regions showed the highest number of diploic veins. However, the highest number of draining diploic veins connecting to the lacunae lateralis was found in the frontal and parietal skull region, just anterior and just posterior to the coronal suture. In the pediatric age group, the parietal skull region, just posterior to the coronal suture, showed the highest overall number of diploic veins and also the highest number of draining diploic veins connecting to the LL.

conclusionThis study suggested that diploic venous density across the skull varies with age, with more parietal diploic veins in the pediatric age range, and more occipital and frontal diploic veins in adults. If the DVS is ultimately used for CSF diversion, our anatomical data point to optimal sites for the insertion of specially designed intraosseous infusion devices for the treatment of hydrocephalus. Likely the optimal sites for CSF diversion would be the parietal region just posterior to the coronal suture in children, and in adults, frontal and/or parietal just anterior or just posterior to the coronal suture.

Indexed as

Cerebrospinal fluid diversionDiploic venous spaceSkull regions

Identifiers

PMID34221580
PMCPMC8247719
OpenAlexW3168771998

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-SA
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.