[Postgadolinium MR angiography of normal intradural veins of the thoracolumbar spine].

To evaluate the normal intradural spinal veins, we used postgadolinium three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography (MRA) at 1.5T in 7 subjects. MR images and MR angiograms[32/6/1 (TR/TE/NEX)] were obtained after a bolus injection of Gd-DTPA (0.15-0.2 mmol/kg). We reconstructed images using an equipped function, so-called multiplanar reconstruction. The anterior median veins in 2 patients and the posterior median veins were shown in 2. The great medullary veins were demonstrated in 2. We successed in obtaining venous angiograms by postgadolinium MRA. Disseminated tumors and abnormal enhanced cauda equina are often indistinguishable from normal intradural veins. This study suggests that it is useful to know the MR angiographic features of normal intradural veins in order to evaluate enhanced intradural components.