Posterior cerebral arteries anatomical variants. In: Probleme actuale ale morfologiei

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the posterior cerebral arteries anatomical variations and its clinical implication. In our century, the very complex cerebral pathology has stringently imposed the most precise and exact knowledge of cerebral blood circulation. Stroke being one of the main causes of death and disability. In multiple studies, over the years, has been tried to establish a relation between the blood vessels anatomical variations ant stroke. Material and method We assessed the posterior cerebral arteries and their branches on 40 dissections, 80 CAT scans angiograms and 160 MR angiograms. We have measured the caliber and length of posterior cerebral artery P1 segment. We assessed the collaterals. Results The P1 segment length had an average of 8 mm, and a caliber with an average of 1,7mm. We observed: a hypoplastic P1 segment in 18,3% cases (bilaterally and unilaterally) , P1 agenesis in 2,2% of cases. The deep posteromedial branches were divided in 5 types. Conclusions We observed a variability of posterior cerebral arteries, like hypoplasia, agenesia, fenestration and in the distribution of deep branches that is important for the radiologist, neurologist, and surgeon in establishing the diagnosis, therapy and in evaluating the prognosis of cerebral vascular disease.