Anatomic relationship between arachnoid granulations in the transverse sinus and the termination of the vein of Labbe: an angiographic study

We studied the anatomic relationship between arachnoid granulations in the transverse sinus and the termination of the vein of Labbe in 57 consecutive angiograms. Patients with pathology in intracranial venous structures or w ith inadequate image quality of the venous system were excluded. Arachnoid granulations were found in 12 of the 57 patients (21.1%), always at the jun ction of the vein of Labbe and the transverse sinus; the vein of Labbe was present in 55 patients (96.5 %), most often without associated arachnoid gr anulations; the latter, however, were not observed in the absence of a vein of Labbe. This study confirms the close, constant anatomic relationship be tween arachnoid granulations in the transverse sinus and the termination of the vein of Labbe. This observation may help to differentiate arachnoid gr anulations from pathologic conditions involving the transverse sinus such a s dural sinus thrombosis. The constant character of this relationship sugge sts a developmental role of afferent veins in the formation of arachnoid gr anulations.