1976 Volume 16pt2 Issue 1 Pages 65-70
Topographic anatomy, anatomic variations, and angiographic anatomy of the veins which drain the quadrigeminal plate proper were studied and described in detail. The diagnostic values of the quadrigeminal veins were also discussed in brain stem lesions.
Specific veins which drained the quadrigeminal plate proper were constantly found in the anatomic specimens. We designated these veins as “Quadrigeminal veins.” There were two types of variations of the quadrigeminal veins in anatomic studies. These veins had a close, anatomic, and angiographic correlation with the quadrigeminal plate. They outlined the position and configuration of the quadrigeminal plate on the lateral projection of the venous phase of the vertebral angiography. The whole structure and each part of the mesencephalon were delineated from the quadrigeminal veins in combination with other mesencephalic veins, such as the posterior mesencephalic veins, lateral mesencephalic veins, and the mesencephalic segment of the anterior ponto-mesencephalic veins.
The quadrigeminal veins showed characteristic findings in the course and configuration in the pontine and mesencephalic tumors. They were also of use in the diagnosis of tumor extension of brain stem tumors.
The atrophy of the brain stem and posterior fossa structures were evaluated by the mesencephalic and cerebellar veins, such as quadrigeminal veins, anterior pontomesencephalic vein, precentral cerebellar veins, and supraculminate vein.
The quadrigeminal veins were of great diagnostic value in these respects as described above.
