Enlarged parietal foramina: association with cerebral venous and cortical anomalies.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a series of patients with enlarged parietal foramina for associated brain anomalies.

BACKGROUND

Enlarged parietal foramina are usually considered a benign calvarial defect.

METHODS

Ten patients with enlarged parietal foramina were identified. Seven patients were evaluated with neuroimaging: two by cranial CT and five by CT and/or MRI. Three patients who underwent MRI also underwent MR angiography or MR venography.

RESULTS

Six of seven patients had cranial imaging showing a persistent falcine venous sinus. Three of six patients had variations of occipital cortical infolding. One patient had focal encephalomalacia in close proximity to the persistent falcine venous sinus and one had a previously undiagnosed atretic occipital encephalocele.

CONCLUSION

This constellation of findings suggests that aberrant vascular evolution during fetal development may affect cerebrovascular, brain, or skull development. Individuals with enlarged parietal foramina (>5 mm) warrant imaging of underlying brain parenchyma and vasculature.