Objective    To observe the changes of inferior petrosal sinus (IPS) in intracranial hypertension using multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT)

and provide image data for clinical diagnosis and treatment.     Methods    CT data about IPS features were collected from 8 patients with intracranial hypertension (from November 2008 to March 2009) and 120 normal subjects. The morphology of IPS was observed and measured between the 2 groups through serial thin sectional images and postprocessing techniques.     Results    The IPS group had a higher intracranial pressure

the width of initial part of IPS was (9.56±2.31) mm and the depth was (2.39±0.55) mm; the diameter of vertical part of IPS was (1.76±0.60) mm; the diameter of IPS at the point leaving the cranium was (2.28±0.44) mm and the diameter of IPS joining internal jugular vein (IJV) was (2.46±0.59) mm. The width of initial part of IPS and the diameter of IPS at the point leaving the cranium were greater than those of the normal group. The depth of initial part of IPS

the diameter of vertical part and the diameter of IPS joining IJV were lesser than those of the normal group.     Conclusion    There are some morphologic changes of IPS when intracranial pressure is increased. MSCT is an accurate imaging technique to evaluate morphological features of IPS.