Post Mortem Investigation of the Vertebrobasilar System

Abstract

This report gives the results of dissections of the vertebrobasilar system and angio graphy of brain specimens; the technique of correct centering in vertebral angio graphy performed in patients will also be discussed. DissectionThe material consisted of 30 brain specimens. The vertebral artery was injected with plastic material as described by SALAMON (1971). Each specimen was cut at the level of the origin of the cerebral peduncles. The basilar artery was divided im mediately below the origin of the posterior cerebral arteries. Each specimen was photographed, and radiography was performed in five projections (Fig. 1), magnifica tion being used. The specimen was then dissected.The number, location, origin and termination of each vessel were carefully re corded and their frequencies in the total material calculated. ResultsThe basilar artery was present in all cases. Its course was straight in 16, curved in 10 and tortuous in 4 cases.

Surgical anatomy of the arteries of the posterior fossa

“…Although there is much information concerning neurovascular relationships and collateral supply in the posterior circulation, ~' 4-11, [13][14][15][16]18,20,23 there is a limited amount of quantitative data available when planning a reconstructive vascular procedure. The purpose of this study is to further detail the anatomy of each of the major posterior circulation arteries, and thus to identify the optimal anatomical sites where anastomoses can be performed.…”

The Anterior Inferior Cerebral Artery Variability in the Context of Neurovascular Compression Syndromes: A Narrative Review

“…Regarding radiological studies (CT, DSA, MRI), the agenesis of AICA is observed in up to 36.1% of cases: 5.6-11.1% for right, 11.1-16.1% for left [42,44], and 6.7-14.4% for both sides [42][43][44]. In contrast, in cadaveric studies, it was observed in less than 5%; the bilateral AICA agenesis was not described in these cases [18,21,23,26,43,45].…”

“…The prevalence of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery anatomical variants is collected in Table 1. Differences between studies may be explained by different methodologies: cadaveric studies [18,21,23,26,43] vs. radiological studies (computed tomography angiography (CTA) [42,44], magnetic resonance angiogra-phy (MRA) [44], and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) [19]). The absence of AICA was frequently diagnosed in CTA, MRA, and DSA, but not in cadaver studies [45].…”

“…Regarding radiological studies (CT, DSA, MRI), the agenesis of AICA is observed in up to 36.1% of cases: 5.6-11.1% for right, 11.1-16.1% for left [42,44], and 6.7-14.4% for both sides [42][43][44]. In contrast, in cadaveric studies, it was observed in less than 5%; the bilateral AICA agenesis was not described in these cases [18,21,23,26,43,45]. These discrepancies may be explained by: imperfection of angiography in the case of imaging very small vessels; and different study group sizes (greater in radiological studies).…”

“…This hypothesis posits an inverse proportionality between AICA's size and supplied territory and those of PICA. Notably, elongated AICA, extending to the cerebellum's posterior inferior surface, often coincides with PICA's atresia or absence [43].…”