Anterior Communicating Artery Complex Aneurysms Are Caused by the Asymmetric Anterior Cerebral Arteries

Abstract

Background: Rupture of anterior communicating artery complex (AcomAC) aneurysms is a common cause of haemorrhagic brain strokes. Ability to predict development of aneurysms in advance would allow stroke prevention. Asymmetry of the components of cerebral basal arterial network (CBAN) could alter hemodynamics and may contribute to formation of aneurysms. The asymmetric diameter ratio of first segments of anterior cerebral arteries (A1s), correlates with the occurrence of the AcomAC aneurysms. Materials and Methods: Cerebral Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) scans of 166 adult patients of both sexes were studied. The internal diameters of the right and left A1 segments of anterior cerebral arteries, perpendicular to the long axis of the vessels were measured. Positions and presence or absence of aneurysms in AcomAC were recorded in each individual case. The ratio of the larger to the smaller A1 diameters was determined as a measure of the asymmetry of A1 segments of anterior cerebral arteries (ACAs). Findings: The risk of development of aneurysms in AcomAC was much greater (risk 80%, odds ratio = 47·3) when one A1 segment's radius was at least 50% larger (i.e. 2·25 times greater cross-sectional area) than the other. The risk of development of aneurysms was just 7·8%, if the A1 asymmetric ratio was less than 1·5 (odds ratio = 0·02). Conclusion: The asymmetry ratio of the A1 segments of anterior cerebral arteries is a good predictor for the development of aneurysms in the AcomAC region. Funding Statement: The authors stated: None. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The use of images and accompanying information was approved for research purposes by the University of Adelaide Human Research Ethics Board (approval number: H2014-176). Patients’ personal details, have not been copied, documented, or included in this research.