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Superior hemispheric veins of the cerebellum

The superior hemispheric veins of the cerebellum are key venous structures responsible for draining the superior aspect of the cerebellar hemispheres. They play a crucial role in venous outflow, channeling blood from the cerebellar cortex to the tentorial sinuses and subsequently to the straight sinus. Recognizing their anatomy and imaging characteristics is essential for differentiating normal variants from pathology, especially on advanced neuroimaging modalities such as MRI and CT venography.

Synonyms

  • Superior cerebellar hemispheric veins

  • Superior surface veins of the cerebellum

  • Veins of the superior cerebellar hemisphere

Function

  • Drain venous blood from the superior surface of the cerebellar hemispheres

  • Empty into the tentorial sinuses or the straight sinus

  • Play a role in maintaining venous drainage and preventing venous congestion within the cerebellum

MRI Appearance

T2-Weighted Imaging:

  • Appears as flow voids (signal loss) along the superior cerebellar hemispheres due to rapid blood flow

  • Typically thin, linear, or serpiginous structures paralleling the cerebellar cortex

  • No abnormal hyperintensity or edema unless thrombosed

T1-Weighted Imaging:

  • Normally appear as low signal intensity tubular structures

  • May not be distinctly visible unless enlarged or filled with slow/abnormal flow

  • Flow-related signal loss

3D Phase Contrast (PC 3D) MR Venography:

  • Superior hemispheric veins are well-visualized as thin, curvilinear, enhancing structures

  • Demonstrates continuity with the tentorial or straight sinus

  • Useful for evaluating patency and venous anatomy

Post-Contrast T1-Weighted Imaging:

  • Veins enhance homogeneously after gadolinium administration

  • Enhancing linear or serpentine structures overlying the cerebellar hemispheres

  • No abnormal enhancement unless pathology (e.g., thrombosis, mass effect)

CT and CTV (CT Venography) Appearance

Non-Contrast CT:

  • Typically not visualized

  • May be seen as faint linear densities if enlarged or calcified (rare)

CT Venography (CTV):

  • Visualized as enhancing linear or curvilinear vessels on the superior aspect of the cerebellar hemispheres

  • Clearly delineated when using thin-section CTV

  • Assessable for thrombosis, displacement, or other abnormalities

MRI images

superior hemispheric veins MRI 3T axial image

MRI images

superior hemispheric veins MRI 3T coronal image