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Vasa vasorum of the intracranial arteries
1Department of Neurosurgery, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sugitani Toyama, Japan.
Insights
Intracranial vasa vasorum, small blood vessels in the brain's arteries, were found in most autopsy cases. Their presence is linked to aging, atherosclerosis, and cerebrovascular diseases.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Vasa vasorum are crucial in extracranial arteries but poorly understood in intracranial arteries.
- Their role in cerebral artery pathology requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution and incidence of vasa vasorum in major cerebral arteries.
- To explore the relationship between intracranial vasa vasorum and clinical factors.
Main Methods:
- Light microscopy examination of 50 autopsy cases (1987-1994).
- Analysis of vasa vasorum presence in proximal (vertebral, internal carotid, basilar) and distal (middle cerebral, anterior cerebral) arteries.
- Correlation with patient age, atherosclerosis severity, and cerebrovascular diseases.
Main Results:
- Vasa vasorum were identified in 36 out of 50 patients (72%).
- Most commonly found in the tunica adventitia of proximal arteries (vertebral, internal carotid).
- Higher incidence observed in aged patients with severe atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular diseases.
Conclusions:
- Intracranial vasa vasorum are present, particularly in the tunica adventitia of vertebral and internal cerebral arteries.
- Their incidence correlates with atherosclerosis severity.
- Development in the tunica media may indicate pathological changes in cerebral arteries.
Abstract:
Most of the major extracranial arteries have vasa vasorum which play an important role in some pathological conditions. However, in the intracranial arteries, the existence of vasa vasorum and their pathological implication have not been adequately investigated. We examined the distribution and incidence of vasa vasorum in the major cerebral arteries and their relationships to certain clinical factors in 50 autopsy cases performed between 1987 and 1994. By light microscopy, vasa vasorum were found in 36 of 50 patients. Of 36 patients, vasa vasorum in 30 cases were localizedly observed in the tunica adventitia and the in other 6 were distributed in the tunica media accompanied by intramural haemorrhage. Existence of vasa vasorum was more common in the proximal arteries (vertebral, internal carotid, and basilar arteries) than in the distal arteries (middle cerebral and anterior cerebral arteries). Vasa vasorum were found more frequently in aged patients with severe atherosclerosis and those with cerebrovascular diseases. Our results indicated that intracranial vasa vasorum existed with a higher frequency in the tunica adventitia of the vertebral and internal cerebral arteries, and the incidence of vasa vasorum related to severity of atherosclerosis. The development of vasa vasorum in the tunica media may reflect some pathological changes of cerebral arteries.