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Published on: November 20, 2015
Imaging detection of cerebral artery fenestrations and their clinical correlation with cerebrovascular diseases
Xuan Wu1, Xinyuan Chen1, Jiting Zhu1
1Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Insights
Cerebral artery fenestrations are uncommon but linked to vascular issues like aneurysms and infarctions, particularly in the basilar artery. Further research is needed to confirm cause-and-effect relationships.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Imaging
- Radiology
Background:
- Cerebral artery fenestrations are incidentally detected during neuroimaging.
- These findings are reportedly associated with aneurysms and cerebrovascular diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prevalence, location, and associated vascular diseases of cerebral artery fenestrations.
- To investigate potential links between fenestrations and cerebrovascular events.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) data.
- Inclusion of patients with cerebral artery fenestrations examined between January 2014 and December 2017.
- Description of fenestration location, size, and co-existing vascular abnormalities.
Main Results:
- A detection rate of 1.13% (208/18,360 patients) for cerebral artery fenestrations.
- Basilar artery fenestrations were most common (50.2%).
- Associated findings included vascular malformations (41 patients, including 29 aneurysms) and cerebral infarctions (26 patients).
Conclusions:
- Cerebral artery fenestration is an infrequent finding, predominantly affecting the basilar artery.
- Fenestrations may be associated with cerebrovascular diseases and malformations.
- The current study could not establish a definitive cause-to-effect relationship.
Objectives:
Cerebral artery fenestrations detected incidentally during computed tomographic angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) are reported to be associated with aneurysmal dilatation, which may cause cerebrovascular diseases, arteriovenous malformations, or, rarely, ischemic symptoms.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed CTA and MRA of patients with cerebral artery fenestration examined between January 2014 and December 2017. The location, shape, and other associated vascular diseases were described.
Results:
Two hundred eleven cerebral artery fenestrations were found in 208 patients for a detection rate of 1.13% (208/18,360). Basilar artery fenestrations were most common, accounting for 50.2% (106/211). The fenestration was <5 mm in 115 patients (54.5%), 5-10 mm in 63 (29.9%), and ≥10 mm in 33 (15.6%). Forty-one patients had other vascular malformations, including 29 aneurysms. Except for one aneurysm, which was at the site of the fenestration, all other aneurysms were separate from the fenestrations. 26 patients had cerebral infarctions; among them, 11 had cerebral infarctions in the blood supply area of the arterial fenestration.
Conclusions:
Cerebral artery fenestration is an uncommon finding at cerebral imaging, but mostly affects the basilar artery. Cerebral artery fenestrations could be associated with cerebrovascular diseases and malformations, but the present study could not evaluate the cause-to-effect relationship.
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