What is a prominent arachnoid granulation?

Arachnoid granulations are structures filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that extend into the venous sinuses through openings in the dura mater and allow the drainage of CSF from subarachnoid space into venous system. Usually they are asymptomatic but can be symptomatic when large enough to cause sinus occlusion.

What is Pacchionian granulation?

Arachnoid granulations, also known as Pacchionian granulations, are projections of the arachnoid membrane (villi) into the dural sinuses that allow CSF to pass from the subarachnoid space into the venous system.

What causes enlarged arachnoid granulations?

Arachnoid granulations increase in numbers and enlarge with age in response to increased CSF pressure from the subarachnoid space and are usually quite apparent by 4 years of age.

How big is an arachnoid granulation in the skull?

Arachnoid granulations are growths of arachnoid membrane into the dural sinuses through which CSF enters the venous system. They normally measure a few millimeters but may grow to fill and dilate the dural sinuses or expand the inner table of the skull.

Can a giant arachnoid granulation cause local dilation?

SUMMARY: Arachnoid granulations may expand the dural sinuses or inner table of the skull. Although usually incidental, giant arachnoid granulations that are of sufficient size to fill the lumen of a dural sinus and cause local dilation or filling defects can rarely cause symptoms due to sinus obstruction leading to venous hypertension.

How are arachnoid granulations affect the dural sinus?

Abstract. SUMMARY: Arachnoid granulations may expand the dural sinuses or inner table of the skull. Although usually incidental, giant arachnoid granulations that are of sufficient size to fill the lumen of a dural sinus and cause local dilation or filling defects can rarely cause symptoms due to sinus obstruction leading to venous hypertension.

How are giant arachnoid granulations used to treat CSF?

Dural sinus pressure measurement, in certain cases of giant arachnoid granulations, can be used to exclude the lesion as the cause of the patient’s symptoms. Arachnoid granulations are growths of arachnoid membrane into the dural sinuses through which CSF enters the venous system.