ANOMALOUS VENOUS DRAINAGE IN A CASE OF NON SYNDROMIC CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS

The authors describe the clinical and radiological findings in a case of non-syndromic craniosynostosis affecting multiple sutures, in which the intracranial venous drainage was grossly anomalous. Investigation by magnetic resonance imaging and angiography revealed that almost al l of the intracranial venous blood was draining from the dural sinuses transosseoussly via enlarged emissary veins to the external jugular v eins and the vertebral veins. Although present, both internal jugular veins were small. This discovery represented a contraindication for th e vault expansion surgery that had been recommended as treatment for t he patient's raised intracranial pressure, and it has important implic ations for the management of all types of craniosynostosis.