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Fenestration of the vertebrobasilar junction detected with multidetector computed tomography angiography
, 2, 3, 1, 1
Affiliations- Discipline of Clinical Anatomy, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Department of Radiology, Jackpersad and Partners Inc., Specialist Diagnostic Radiologists, Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre, South Africa
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Abstract
The complex embryonic origin of the vertebrobasilar system may result in a wide range of anatomical variations. It has been hypothesized that the formation of fenestrations are likely to occur due to the failure of regression of the bridging arteries that connect the longitudinal neural arteries during embryogenesis. Fenestration of the vertebrobasilar system is a rare anatomical variation that involves a luminal division of the artery, that has a single origin into two separate and parallel channels which are rejoined distally. Fenestrations are important anatomical variants in patients undergoing endovascular and invasive intracranial interventions. Vascular fenestration has been associated with aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, neuralgia, and vertebrobasilar ischaemia. We report on 3 cases of fenestration at the vertebrobasilar junction in 1 female and 2 male patients, respectively, using multidetector computed tomography angiography. The length of the fenestrated segment of the artery measured 4.41 mm, 3.90 mm, and 5.90 mm, respectively in the patients. Our report is clinically important as the presence of this anatomical variation may influence the management of cervical and intracranial pathologies. Increased awareness of the prevalence of anatomic variations contributes to the advancement of noninvasive imaging capabilities.
Abstract
The complex embryonic origin of the vertebrobasilar system may result in a wide range of anatomical variations. It has been hypothesized that the formation of fenestrations are likely to occur due to the failure of regression of the bridging arteries that connect the longitudinal neural arteries during embryogenesis. Fenestration of the vertebrobasilar system is a rare anatomical variation that involves a luminal division of the artery, that has a single origin into two separate and parallel channels which are rejoined distally. Fenestrations are important anatomical variants in patients undergoing endovascular and invasive intracranial interventions. Vascular fenestration has been associated with aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, neuralgia, and vertebrobasilar ischaemia. We report on 3 cases of fenestration at the vertebrobasilar junction in 1 female and 2 male patients, respectively, using multidetector computed tomography angiography. The length of the fenestrated segment of the artery measured 4.41 mm, 3.90 mm, and 5.90 mm, respectively in the patients. Our report is clinically important as the presence of this anatomical variation may influence the management of cervical and intracranial pathologies. Increased awareness of the prevalence of anatomic variations contributes to the advancement of noninvasive imaging capabilities.
Keywords
morphological variation, vertebral artery, basilar artery
About this articleTitle
Fenestration of the vertebrobasilar junction detected with multidetector computed tomography angiography
Journal
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
510-514
Published online
2021-03-02
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5210
Article views/downloads
1182
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Folia Morphol 2022;81(2):510-514.
Keywords
morphological variation
vertebral artery
basilar artery
Authors
B. R. Omotoso
R. Harrichandparsad
I. G. Moodley
K. S. Satyapal
L. Lazarus
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