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The vein of Labbe masquerading as an epidural abscess

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 May 2007

M Kraus ,
I Shelef ,
A Niv  and
D M Kaplan
M Kraus*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
I Shelef
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
A Niv
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
D M Kaplan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
*
Address for correspondence: Dr M Kraus, Department of Otolaryngology, Soroka University Medical Center, P.O.Box 151, Beer-Sheva 84101, Israel. Fax: 972-8-6499981 E-mail: kraysm@bezeqint.net
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Abstract

The occipitotemporal vein (OTV) courses over the temporal lobe, connecting the superficial middle cerebral vein and the transverse sinus. This vein is rarely identifiable on computerized tomography (CT) scans and a large amount of contrast is needed to identify such a relatively small vessel. We present a 12-month-old male with acute coalescent mastoiditis and a subperiosteal abscess. An epidural abscess was suspected on pre-operative CT scan. No abscess was found on surgery. Based on the surgical finding, we determined that this misdiagnosis was due to a vascular variant, the occipitotemporal vein (vein of Labbe) that masqueraded as an abcess on the CT scan. Recognition of the vein of Labbe on CT scan is therefore essential for the appropriate management of otological and neurotological disease.

Keywords

MastoiditisChildTomography, X-ray Computed
Type
Online Only Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 121 , Issue 8 , August 2007 , E12
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2007

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