Turkish Neurosurgery
Morphological Characteristics of Posterior Cerebral Circulation: An Analysis Based on Non-Invasive Imaging
Filip Vitosevic1, Lukas Rasulic2, Svetlana Milosevic Medenica1
1Clinical Center of Serbia, Center for Radiology and MRI, Belgrade,
2University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic for Neurosurgery, Belgrade,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.22661-18.1
Aim:Study was performed to provide measurements of the posterior cerebral circulation using non-invasive imaging modality.Material and Methods:120 patients aged from 12 to 76 years were analyzed using CT angiography. Measurements of vertebral arteries (VA), basilar artery, posterior cerebral arteries (PCA) and posterior communicating arteries were obtained. Basilar artery appearance and curvature was also noted. Differences between sides, genders and age groups were evaluated.Results:Mean diameter of left VA was 2.36 ± 0.81 mm, and mean diameter of right VA was 2.14 ± 0.79 mm. Mean length of basilar artery in man was 34.07 ± 5.53 mm, and in woman 30,79 ± 4.18 mm. There was significant difference in basilar artery length between genders, man had a longer basilar artery (p<0.01). There was significant difference in basilar artery diameters of patients younger and older than 60 years, older patients had statistically larger diameter, 3.17 ± 0.76 mm, to 2.87 ± 0.57 mm in younger (p<0.05). In 36.7% basilar artery was straight, in 47.5% it was convex to right, while in 14.2% of the patients it was convex to left. Mean diameter of left P1 was 1.80 ± 0.58 mm, and of right 1.87 ± 0.54 mm. There was no statistically significant difference between diameters of left and right P1 segments of PCA and also between genders (p>0.05).Conclusion:Modern non-invasive imaging modalities can provide precise and useful information for vessels analysis. This information may be useful for planning and performing neuro-interventional procedures as well as posterior cranial fossa surgeries.
Corresponding author : Lukas Rasulic