Distance, Depth and Puncture Angle for Cisterna Magna in Chinese Adults as Read from Magnetic Resonance Imaging

IntroductIon The cisterna magna is a space lying between the cerebellum and medulla oblongata that is important in collecting cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in some patients with contraindication or the impossibility of lumbar puncture and in intrathecal administration medication infusion.[1,2] Knowledge of the anatomy of the cisterna magna, especially the key distance from skin to cisterna magna is necessary in safely performing cisternal puncture. Until now, specific anatomical measurements in vivo have not been reported in the medical literature. To provide this necessary reference information, we analyzed the depth from the skin to cisterna magna, the direction and site of cistern puncture in Chinese adult patients.