Liliequist membrane
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View Rohit Sharma's current disclosures- Liliequist's membrane
The Liliequist membrane is an arachnoid membrane separating the chiasmatic cistern, interpeduncular cistern, and prepontine cistern.
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Gross anatomy
It arises anteriorly from the diaphragma sellae and extends posteriorly separating into two sheets, although some authors delineate three discrete components 9.
One extends posterosuperiorly to the posterior edge of the mammillary body (known as the diencephalic membrane); it separates the suprasellar cistern from the interpeduncular cistern 8.
The second sheet extends posteroinferiorly to the pontomesencephalic junction (known as the mesencephalic membrane); it separates the interpeduncular and prepontine cisterns 8.
Laterally, it is described as being attached to the oculomotor nerve (CN III), although there is some disagreement concerning the sites of the superior attachment and its lateral border 6.
The Liliequist membrane has neurosurgical importance, especially in endoscopic and microsurgery, and historically needed to be negotiated when performing pneumoencephalography 7.
Radiographic features
The Liliequist membrane can be visualized in the vast majority of patients on MRI using high-resolution heavily T2 weighted 3D sequences (e.g. constructive interference in steady state (CISS), FIESTA, FFE) 9.
History and etymology
It was originally described by Key and Retzius in 1875 and more precisely described by Bengt Liliequist (1923-2008), a Swedish neuroradiologist, in 1956 in his pneumoencephalographic work on cadavers 1,7,9.
References
- 1. Liliequist B. The Anatomy of the Subarachnoid Cisterns. Acta Radiol. 1956;46(1-2):61-71. doi:10.3109/00016925609170813 - Pubmed
- 2. Lü J & Zhu X. Microsurgical Anatomy of Liliequist's Membrane. Minim Invasive Neurosurg. 2003;46(3):149-54. doi:10.1055/s-2003-40743 - Pubmed
- 3. Zhang M & An P. Liliequist's Membrane is a Fold of the Arachnoid Mater: Study Using Sheet Plastination and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Neurosurgery. 2000;47(4):902-8; discussion 908-9. doi:10.1097/00006123-200010000-00021 - Pubmed
- 4. Fushimi Y, Miki Y, Takahashi J et al. MR Imaging of Liliequist's Membrane. Radiat Med. 2006;24(2):85-90. doi:10.1007/BF02493273 - Pubmed
- 5. Lü J & Zhu X. Characteristics of Distribution and Configuration of Intracranial Arachnoid Membranes. Surg Radiol Anat. 2005;27(6):472-81. doi:10.1007/s00276-005-0025-4 - Pubmed
- 6. Fushimi Y, Miki Y, Ueba T et-al. Liliequist membrane: three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state MR imaging. Radiology. 2003;229 (2): 360-5. doi:10.1148/radiol.2292021507 - Pubmed citation
- 7. Connor D & Nanda A. Bengt Liliequist: Life and Accomplishments of a True Renaissance Man. J Neurosurg. 2017;126(2):645-9. doi:10.3171/2015.12.JNS131770 - Pubmed
- 8. Matsuno H, Rhoton A, Peace D. Microsurgical Anatomy of the Posterior Fossa Cisterns. Neurosurgery. 1988;23(1):58-80. doi:10.1227/00006123-198807000-00012 - Pubmed
- 9. Dias D, Castro F, Yared J, Lucas Júnior A, Ferreira Filho L, Ferreira N. Liliequist Membrane: Radiological Evaluation, Clinical and Therapeutic Implications. Radiol Bras. 2014;47(3):182-5. doi:10.1590/0100-3984.2013.1809 - Pubmed
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