Does Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis Affect Vertebrobasilar Arterial Morphometry? Computed Tomography Angiography Analysis

Abstract

Background:The internal carotid artery (ICA) and the vertebral artery (VA) are responsible for ensuring cerebral perfusion. When the ICA is insufficient in cerebral flow, a collateral rescue system takes place by the circle of Willis. This situation causes increased posterior circulation blood flow and hemodynamic pressure. Therefore, to investigate possible changes in the vertebrobasilar arterial system (VBAS) morphometry.Materials and Methods:Brain-neck computed tomography angiography (CTA) images of a total of male (50) and female (46) 96 patients were examined retrospectively. ICA stenosis was measured by the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial method and was grouped according to the degree of stenosis in each stenosis group with tandem stenosis (wTS) and without tandem stenosis (woTS). Morphometric evaluation of the VBAS structures of the groups was measured and compared.Results:When those wTS and woTS are compared within their own groups, significant differences were detected in VA diameters. When the cases in the group woTS were compared with each other, significant differences were detected in VA diameter values.Conclusion:We found that the presence of ICA stenosis and tandem lesions affected the VBAS morphometry.