Cisterna lines are a set of visible grooves in a section of the brainstem, where the cerebellum meets the spinal cord. The term is pronounced /sɪˈstɜːrnə laɪnz/ in IPA phonetic transcription, reflecting the word's English roots. The first syllable, "cis," is pronounced with a short "i" sound, followed by a stressed "ter" syllable with a short "e" sound. The final syllable is pronounced with a long "i" sound before the "n" and a stressed "z" sound at the end. The spelling of cisterna lines reflects established conventions in English orthography.
Cisterna lines refer to the distinct, radiologically visible, linear formations observed within the cisterns of the central nervous system. The cisterna lines are visualized through imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These lines appear as thin, parallel structures that often run horizontally across the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces in the brain. They are most commonly seen in the cisterns located around the brain stem and across the subarachnoid space.
The presence of cisterna lines can indicate various pathological conditions. It can be a sign of increased intracranial pressure, typically caused by conditions like hydrocephalus, traumatic brain injury, or brain tumors. In such cases, the increased pressure within the cranial vault causes flattening and compression of the CSF spaces, resulting in the appearance of these lines. Cisterna lines can also be associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage, meningitis, or meningeal metastasis.
While cisterna lines are predominantly observed in pathological conditions, they can also be seen in healthy individuals. In normal circumstances, they are thought to represent the reflections of collagenous trabeculae, which are natural anatomical structures present within the cisterns.
Overall, the presence of cisterna lines on neuroimaging studies serves as an important radiological marker for the evaluation and detection of various pathological conditions involving the central nervous system.
Cistern of the great vein of the cerebrum, an expansion of the subarachnoid space below and behind the trunk of the corpus callosum and above the quadrigeminal bodies.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.