Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2012, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (2): 189-192.

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MRA study on the relationship between posterior communicating artery and the development of intracranial segment of vertebral artery

CHEN Li, Lü Fa-jin, YAO Kai-qing, LI Jian-qiu, LEDU Xiao-lan   

  1. Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
  • Received:2011-07-26 Online:2012-03-25 Published:2012-04-17

Abstract:

Objective    To investigate the relationship between the posterior communicating artery (PCoA) and the development of intracranial segment of vertebral artery. Methods A total of 115 subjects underwent 3.0 T magnetic resonance angiographic (MRA) were involved in this study. The development of vertebral artery and the state of PCoA were observed. The diameter of intracranial segment of vertebral artery, the diameter and length of PCoA were measured. As well, the correlation between them was analyzed. Results ①the frequency of hypoplastic left and right vertebral arteries were respectively 15.65% (18/115) and 39.13%(45/115), and the absence of the right vertebral artery were in 0.87%(1/115), the hypoplasia of bilateral vertebral artery were in 2.61%(3/115). 72 patients demonstrated single or bilateral development of the posterior communicating artery, among them 35 cases were bilateral developed, 23 were the left and 14 were the right developed. ③The developing of PCoA was correlated with the development of intracranial segment of vertebral artery(r=0.677,P=0.000). Conclusions The hypoplasia of intracranial segment of vertebral artery leads to the compensatory developing of the posterior communicating artery.

Key words: Vertebral artery, Posterior communicating artery, Magnetic resonance angiography

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