Anatomical variations of the circle of Willis: evaluation with CT angiography

Authors : Hilal ŞAHİN, Yeliz PEKÇEVİK

Pages : 20-26

View : 24 | Download : 8

Publication Date : 2018-06-04

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate anatomic variants and anomalies of the circle of Willis using computed tomography angiography insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CTA);. Methods: CTA images of 770 patients obtained from Tepecik Training and Research Hospital between January 2012 to January 2017 were retrospectively reviewed to identify the anatomical vascular variations of the circle of Willis. Results: After exclusion, 751 patients insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(348 females, 403 males, mean age 54.6 years, range 18–90 years); were enrolled into the study. The anatomical variations related to the posterior communicating artery insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PcoA); were the most common, whereas anatomical variations related to the middle cerebral artery insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MCA); were the least common variations among arteries. Hypoplasia of the A1 segment was the most common insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(14.6%); variation of the anterior cerebral artery insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(ACA); and fenestration of this artery was the least common variation insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1,06%); observed only in A1 segment. Bilateral absence of the PcoA was seen in 27.56% of the patients. Fenestration was more commonly detected in anterior communicating artery insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(AcoA); insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(10.12%);, followed by MCA insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1.06%);, ACA insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1,06%); and PCA insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0.67%);. Duplication was the least common variation which was detected in MCA, AcoA and PcoA. Conclusion: Arterial variations of the circle of Willis are not rare and can be non-invasively evaluated using CTA.
Keywords : angiography, cerebral arteries, circle of Willis, computed tomography, variation