Observation and clinical significance of CT angiography for vertebral artery multiple complex variation

Abstract

Objective To explore the complexity and clinical significance of CTA manifestations of vertebral artery variation. Methods The information of 200 cases of head and neck CTA images completed in Department of Image, Yantai Yeda Hospital from January 2013 to August 2013 was retrospectively analyzed. the anatomical variations of the vertebral artery lumen symmetry, origin, course, number, and abnormal anastomosis were observed. The diversity and complexity of the vertebral artery variation were statistical analyzed. Results In 200 cases, 102 cases had no obvious anatomical variations, 98 cases(49.0%, 98/200) had at least one variation, the most common was small lumen development in 72 arteries of 69 cases (34.5%, 69/200), followed by 28 cases (14.0%, 28/200) of the artery exist different segment of course variations. There were multiple composite variations 19 cases (9.5%, 19/200), and 6 cases (3.0%, 6/200) of the 19 cases had more than 3 kinds of variations. The most common form of multiple composite variations was various kinds of course variation combined with other position and type of variation (7.5%, 15/200). Conclusions CTA has obvious advantages in showing the relationship between vertebral artery and the vertebrae, determining the vertebral artery course variation, and improving the understanding of the complexity of vertebral artery variation and its multiple levels and diagnostic techniques. It may have important significance in the clinical analysis of posterior circulation ischemia, surgical and interventional surgery to avoid vascular injury. Key words: Vertebral artery; Tomography, X-ray computed; Angiography; Variation types; Multiple composite variation