Simone Hammer, Natascha Platz Batista da Silva, Johanna Müller, Claudia Fellner, Barbara Greiner, Veronika Ingrid Huf, Christian Stroszczynski, Walter Alexander Wohlgemuth, Wibke Uller
{"title":"Structured magnetic resonance imaging-based characterization of the marginal vein reveals limits of the Weber-classification.","authors":"Simone Hammer, Natascha Platz Batista da Silva, Johanna Müller, Claudia Fellner, Barbara Greiner, Veronika Ingrid Huf, Christian Stroszczynski, Walter Alexander Wohlgemuth, Wibke Uller","doi":"10.1024/0301-1526/a001070","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b></b> <i>Background:</i> The marginal vein (MV) is a persisting embryonic vein located at the lateral aspect of the lower limb. The Weber-classification, which was developed on the basis of phlebography in the 1990s, is the only existing classification system for this rare disease. Aim of this study was the structured characterization of the lateral marginal vein (MV) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and evaluation of the applicability of the Weber-classification. <i>Patients and methods:</i> Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for this retrospective, single-center study. All patients who underwent contrast-enhanced MRI (using a prospectively determined protocol) of the untreated MV were included. MV anatomy and associated findings were characterized in a structured way taking into account the criteria of the Weber-classification for MV: inflow, outflow and extension. If three criteria of the Weber-classification were fulfilled the MV was categorized as \"classifiable according to Weber\". The MV was categorized as \"partially classifiable according to Weber\", if two criteria were met and as \"not classifiable according to Weber\" if less than two criteria were applicable. <i>Results:</i> 56 imaging studies of 58 MV (7 thoracoabdominal, 51 lower extremities) were reviewed. 18/51 MV of the lower extremities were \"classifiable\" according to the Weber-classification. 33/51 lower extremity MV were not definitely categorized according to the Weber-classification: 19/51 MV were \"partially classifiable\" and 14/51 MV were \"not classifiable\". 30/51 MV presented with hypoplastic, 1/51 with aplastic deep venous system. 34/51 lower extremity and 6/7 thoracoabdominal MV were associated with an additional vascular malformation (VM). <i>Conclusions:</i> MRI is suitable for detailed anatomic characterization of the MV and reveals additional therapy relevant findings like associated VM. The Weber-classification was not applicable in most cases, reflecting its limits and the heterogeneity of this rare disease. Structured reports rather than an obsolete classification system should be preferred for MRI of the MV.</p>","PeriodicalId":23528,"journal":{"name":"Vasa-european Journal of Vascular Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2023-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Vasa-european Journal of Vascular Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1024/0301-1526/a001070","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The marginal vein (MV) is a persisting embryonic vein located at the lateral aspect of the lower limb. The Weber-classification, which was developed on the basis of phlebography in the 1990s, is the only existing classification system for this rare disease. Aim of this study was the structured characterization of the lateral marginal vein (MV) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and evaluation of the applicability of the Weber-classification. Patients and methods: Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for this retrospective, single-center study. All patients who underwent contrast-enhanced MRI (using a prospectively determined protocol) of the untreated MV were included. MV anatomy and associated findings were characterized in a structured way taking into account the criteria of the Weber-classification for MV: inflow, outflow and extension. If three criteria of the Weber-classification were fulfilled the MV was categorized as "classifiable according to Weber". The MV was categorized as "partially classifiable according to Weber", if two criteria were met and as "not classifiable according to Weber" if less than two criteria were applicable. Results: 56 imaging studies of 58 MV (7 thoracoabdominal, 51 lower extremities) were reviewed. 18/51 MV of the lower extremities were "classifiable" according to the Weber-classification. 33/51 lower extremity MV were not definitely categorized according to the Weber-classification: 19/51 MV were "partially classifiable" and 14/51 MV were "not classifiable". 30/51 MV presented with hypoplastic, 1/51 with aplastic deep venous system. 34/51 lower extremity and 6/7 thoracoabdominal MV were associated with an additional vascular malformation (VM). Conclusions: MRI is suitable for detailed anatomic characterization of the MV and reveals additional therapy relevant findings like associated VM. The Weber-classification was not applicable in most cases, reflecting its limits and the heterogeneity of this rare disease. Structured reports rather than an obsolete classification system should be preferred for MRI of the MV.
期刊介绍:
Vasa is the European journal of vascular medicine. It is the official organ of the German, Swiss, and Slovenian Societies of Angiology.
The journal publishes original research articles, case reports and reviews on vascular biology, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, medical treatment and interventions for diseases of the arterial circulation, in the field of phlebology and lymphology including the microcirculation, except the cardiac circulation.
Vasa combines basic science with clinical medicine making it relevant to all physicians interested in the whole vascular field.