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Lateral pontine vein

The lateral pontine vein is a significant venous structure located on the lateral aspect of the pons in the brainstem. It plays a crucial role in draining the lateral regions of the pons and participates in the venous outflow of the posterior fossa. Its identification is important in neuroimaging for the evaluation of normal anatomy and detection of vascular pathologies involving the brainstem.

Synonyms

  • Lateral pontine vein (LPV)

  • Vena pontis lateralis (Latin)

  • Lateral veins of pons

  • Lateral mesencephalic vein (occasionally, in broader anatomical descriptions)

  • Vein of the lateral pons

Function

  • Drains venous blood from the lateral aspect of the pons.

  • Contributes to the venous drainage of the brainstem, specifically the lateral pontine region.

  • Empties into the superior petrosal sinus or nearby bridging veins, facilitating blood flow from the brainstem to the dural venous sinuses.

MRI Appearance

T2-weighted Imaging

  • Appears as a flow void (hypointense, dark linear structure) adjacent to the lateral border of the pons, due to rapid blood flow.

  • Occasionally, the vein can be visualized as a small, thin hypointense line.

T1-weighted Imaging

  • Typically visualized as a hypointense (dark) linear or curvilinear structure, less conspicuous than on T2.

  • May be faint and not always easily distinguished unless enlarged.

PC 3D (Phase Contrast 3D MRI)

  • Demonstrates the lateral pontine vein as a small but distinct linear structure with signal related to venous flow.

  • High sensitivity for visualizing venous anatomy and flow direction.

Post-Contrast T1-weighted Imaging

  • The lateral pontine vein enhances and becomes more conspicuous as a thin, enhancing linear structure adjacent to the lateral pons.

  • Enhancement occurs due to contrast within the vessel lumen, allowing for better visualization against the background brainstem tissue.

CT and CTV Appearance

Non-contrast CT

  • The lateral pontine vein is generally not visible on standard non-contrast CT due to its small size and lack of inherent contrast with brain tissue.

CT Venography (CTV)

  • Appears as a thin, enhancing venous channel along the lateral aspect of the pons.

  • Best visualized in thin-slice, high-resolution venograms.

  • Enhancement with contrast material allows distinction from adjacent brain structures.

MRI images

Lateral pontine vein MRI 3T sagittal image