Circulus Willis Anomalies Diagnosed with CT Angiography and Evaluation of Their Relations with Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Our aim in this study is examining the frequency of posterior communicating artery (PCoM), Anterior Cerebral Artery A1 segment (ACA AI) and Fetal type posterior cerebral artery (FPCA) anomalies and their effects on ischemic stroke by retrospectively analyzing examinations of Computerized Tomography Angiography (CTA) taken in our hospital within 2017. 22 cases (26.5%) diagnosed with bilateral hypoplastic / aplastic PCoA anomaly, were diagnosed with anterior circulation infarct, 24 cases (28.9%) were diagnosed with posterior circulation infarct, but 37 cases (44.6%) were not diagnosed with ischemic stroke. 17 (37.8%) of the cases who have unilateral hypoplastic / aplastic PCoA anomaly, were diagnosed with anterior circulation infarct, 14 cases (31.1%) were diagnosed with posterior circulation infarct. 13 (26%) of 50 cases diagnosed with unilateral hypoplastic / aplastic ACA A1 segment, were diagnosed with anterior circulation infarct, 10 cases (20%) were diagnosed with posterior circulation infarct. 27 cases (54%) were not diagnosed with ischemic stroke. Both of 2 cases diagnosed with bilateral hypoplastic / aplastic ACA A1 segment, had anterior circulation infarct. 4 (30.8%) of 13 cases diagnosed with unilateral FPCA anomaly, were diagnosed with anterior circulation infarct, 3 cases (23.1%) were diagnosed with posterior circulation infarct, 6 cases (46.2%) did not have ischemic stroke symptoms. In conclusion, even though these variations’ role in optimum stroke prophylaxis in individuals having one or more stroke risk factors, has not determined yet, there is no doubt that clinical researcher will eliminate these uncertainties in future studies.