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Cistern of central sulcus

The cistern of the central sulcus is a small cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled subarachnoid space that overlies the central sulcus of the brain. This cistern forms part of the subarachnoid cisternal system and is located at the convexity of the cerebral hemispheres, specifically along the course of the central sulcus, which separates the frontal and parietal lobes. Though not as prominent or frequently referenced as the major basal cisterns, it is an anatomically significant landmark, particularly in neuroimaging and neurosurgery, as it helps delineate the boundary between precentral (motor) and postcentral (sensory) gyri.

Synonyms

  • Cistern of Rolando

  • Rolandic cistern

  • Central sulcus cistern

Function

  • Contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), providing a cushioning effect for the underlying brain structures.

  • Acts as a CSF conduit, facilitating the flow of CSF over the convexities of the cerebral hemispheres.

  • Serves as an important anatomical landmark for identifying the central sulcus during imaging and neurosurgical planning.

  • Helps separate and protect the adjacent precentral and postcentral gyri.

MRI Appearance

  • T1-Weighted Imaging:

    • Appears as a hypointense (dark) space compared to the brain parenchyma due to the CSF content.

    • The cistern is visualized as a thin dark line or small oval/curvilinear area overlying the central sulcus.

    • Adjacent gyri (precentral and postcentral) appear as isointense or slightly hyperintense compared to CSF.

  • T2-Weighted Imaging:

    • CSF within the cistern appears hyperintense (bright).

    • The cistern is visualized as a bright curvilinear or oval structure following the course of the central sulcus.

    • Provides high contrast between CSF (bright) and adjacent brain tissue (intermediate to dark).

  • FLAIR (Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery):

    • CSF signal is suppressed, so the cistern appears hypointense or dark.

    • The cistern is less conspicuous compared to T2-weighted images.

    • Useful for detecting adjacent pathology, such as subarachnoid hemorrhage or cortical lesions.

CT Appearance

  • Appears as a hypodense (dark) area overlying the central sulcus due to its CSF content.

  • The cistern may be challenging to distinguish from other sulcal spaces unless there is adjacent pathology or mass effect.

  • Useful in assessing for subarachnoid blood or mass lesions that may distort or obliterate the cistern.

MRI images

Cistern of central sulcus mri 3t axial image

MRI images

Cistern of central sulcus mri 3t sagittal image

CT image

Cistern of central sulcus CT axial anatomy image -img-00001-00001