Abstract
Introduction: The circle of Willis (CoW), which is located at the base of the brain is the most important anastomosis between the internal carotid and vertebral system. It is the main distributor of blood to the brain. Methods: CT head and CT angiography were performed using standard scan parameters. Only the tests with normal radiological reports and appropriate technical standards were included in the study. Component of circle of Willis: Anterior cerebral artery (ACA), Middle cerebral artery (MCA), Anterior communicating artery (Acom), Posterior Communicating artery (PCom), Basilar artery (BA) and Posterior cerebral artery (PCA) were identified and their internal diameter were measured. Results: Basilar artery was the artery with largest internal diameter with mean diameter of 2.5 ±0.52 mm. Men had significantly larger arterial sizes than women in all of the intracranial arteries examined except right PCom, Left PCom and right MCA. Right ACA had significantly larger internal diameter in <40 years’ age group. BA, left PCA, Bilateral PCom and MCA showed larger diameter in age group ≥40 years. Conclusion: Men had significantly larger arterial sizes than women in all of the intracranial arteries examined except right PCom, Left PCom and right MCA.
Highlights
The circle of Willis (CoW), which is located at the base of the brain is the most important anastomosis between the internal carotid and vertebral system
Patient with cerebral arteriovenous malformation, subarachnoid haemorrhage, surgical interventions in head, images with motion artifacts, brain tumors and incomplete Circle of Willis were excluded from the study
Men had significantly larger arterial sizes than women in all of the intracranial arteries examined except right Posterior Communicating artery (PCom), Left PCom and right Middle cerebral artery (MCA) (Table 1)
Summary
The circle of Willis (CoW), which is located at the base of the brain is the most important anastomosis between the internal carotid and vertebral system. It is located at the base of the brain and allows equalization of blood- flow between the two sides of brain It acts as a collateral pathway between the internal carotid artery and vertebral artery in case of reduced cerebral perfusion because of stenosis or occlusion of either of these vessels. Collateral potential of this circle of Willis, an arterial heptagon, is dependent on the presence and size of its component vessels.[1,2] Current imaging techniques like computed tomography angiography , Magnetic resonance angiography and digital subtraction angiography helps in correct depiction of diameter of arteries forming circle of willis.[3] The knowledge of the diameter of the circle of Willis have a greater importance in interventional radiology for various endovascular interventions and significant impact in collateral potential of circle of Sharma P et al.: Impact of gender and age on inner diameter of CoW arteries
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