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Supratrochlear vein

The supratrochlear vein is a superficial vein located in the forehead, playing a key role in facial venous drainage. It is commonly seen in clinical and imaging studies due to its superficial location, and it is important for both anatomical understanding and clinical practice, especially in procedures involving the upper face and forehead. The supratrochlear vein runs medially in the forehead and joins with the supraorbital vein to form the angular vein at the root of the nose.

Synonyms

  • Frontal vein (medial branch)

  • Vena supratrochlearis (Latin)

  • Medial frontal vein

Function

  • Drains venous blood from the medial part of the forehead and scalp.

  • Empties into the angular vein at the medial canthus (inner angle) of the eye.

  • Contributes to superficial facial venous drainage.

  • Plays a minor role in thermoregulation of the forehead.

MRI Appearance

  • T1-weighted images:

    • Appears as a tubular structure with low signal intensity due to flowing blood.

    • Vein walls are not usually visualized unless there is surrounding pathology or thrombosis.

  • T2-weighted images:

    • The vein itself is often low signal due to flow void, but may show higher signal if flow is slow or if there is thrombus.

    • Surrounding tissues show normal T2 contrast.

  • STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

    • The vein generally maintains low signal intensity unless there is inflammation or thrombosis.

    • STIR is sensitive for surrounding soft tissue edema or inflammation if present.

CT Appearance

  • Non-contrast CT:

    • The supratrochlear vein may be visualized as a thin, low-attenuation tubular structure in the soft tissue of the forehead.

    • Small caliber often makes it difficult to see unless enlarged or involved in a pathological process.

  • Contrast-enhanced CT:

    • Opacifies with intravenous contrast, appearing as a small, enhancing tubular vessel.

    • Can be traced from the medial forehead toward the medial canthus.

MRI images

Supratrochlear vein mri image