Rapid Resolution Of Symptoms After Transient Ischemic Attack And The Circle Of Willis.

Abstract

A case of a transient ischemic attack is reported in which the focal neurological symptoms and signs resolved within 2 hours. The patient’s symptoms appeared suddenly and were in a vascular territory, suggesting an ischemic vascular event. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an infarct on the right side of the corona radiata and internal carotid artery stenosis. The circle of Willis was completely formed. The circle of Willis is considered an important collateral pathway in maintaining adequate cerebral blood flow. To investigate the anatomic variation of the circle of Willis. 200 subjects underwent magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and the morphology of the circle of Willis was compared with autopsy data from 55 individuals. This study illustrates the prevalence of anatomical variations of the circle of Willis, with only 7% of the individuals studied by MRA and only 33 % of the subjects studied at autopsy having an entirely complete circle of Willis. The important results of the study is that only few brains examined possessed a normal complete circle of Willis. The relationship between the circle of Willis and the remission time of symptoms was investigated.