Anatomical variations of anterior circulation in the brains of patients with and without intracranial aneurysm

• Main Authors: Ali Yılmaz, Ayça Özkul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkish Society of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2018-04-01
• Series: Türk Beyin Damar Hastalıkları Dergisi
• Subjects: aneurysm; cerebral artery; variation
• Online Access: https://www.journalagent.com/tbdhd/pdfs/TBDHD_24_1_8_13.pdf

INTRODUCTION: Anatomic variations of cerebral arteries may influence the development of aneurysms. In this study our aim was to determine vascular anatomical variations of the anterior circulation of the brain in patients with and without cerebral aneurysms and also the relationship between vascular variations. METHODS: The cerebral digital subtraction angiography data of 438 patients were investigated retrospectively. Anatomical vascular variations of MCA and ACA-AcomA complex were investigated separately in patients with and without aneurysm. RESULTS: Most of our patients with cerebral aneurysms had SAH (n: 68, 80%). Although normal ACA AcomA complex and MCA vascular anatomy was less frequently seen in SAH, there was no statistical significance. ACA AcomA vascular anatomy was not significantly different between patients with and without cerebral aneurysm, however patients with cerebral aneurysm had statistically higher MCA vascular anatomical variations (p: 0.03). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: ACA-AcomA vascular anatomy was not significantly different between patients with and without cerebral aneurysm. However MCA vascular anatomical variations were more commonly seen in patients with cerebral aneurysm. Variations of MCA may increase the risk of aneurysm formation and therefore have an important role in the planning of aneurysm treatment.