doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A1563
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American Journal of Neuroradiology 30:1347-1350, August 2009
© 2009 American Society of Neuroradiology
INTERVENTIONAL
Fenestrations of Intracranial Arteries Detected with 3D Rotational Angiography
a Department of Neuroradiology, Vrije Universiteit Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
b Department of Radiology, St. Elisabeth Ziekenhuis, Tilburg, the Netherlands
Please address correspondence to Sanne B.T. van Rooij, BSc, Vrije Universiteit Medisch Centrum, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands; e-mail: srj300{at}student.vu.nl
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fenestrations of intracranial arteries are variants resulting from incomplete fusion of primitive vessels. An association with aneurysms is suggested in many studies. On conventional angiography, fenestrations are rarely visible. 3D rotational angiography (3DRA) provides improved visualization of cerebral vessels from any desired angle. We used 3DRA to assess the frequency and location of fenestrations of intracranial arteries and a possible relationship with aneurysms.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 208 patients with suspected intracranial aneurysms, 3DRA of 1, 2, or 3 cerebral vessels (in 143, 16, and 49 patients) was reviewed for the presence and location of fenestrations and aneurysms. When fenestrations were present in combination with aneurysms, we noted the relationship of the locations.
RESULTS: In 59 of 208 patients, 61 fenestrations were detected (28%). Fenestrations were more frequent in the anterior than in the posterior circulation (23% versus 7%), and the most common location was the anterior communicating artery (AcomA) (43 of 61, 70%). The frequency of fenestrations in 185 patients with aneurysms was not different from the frequency in 23 patients without aneurysms. Of 220 aneurysms present in 208 patients, 10 aneurysms (4.5%) were located on a fenestration. Of 61 fenestrations, 51 (84%) were not associated with an aneurysm.
CONCLUSIONS: With 3DRA, fenestrations were found in 28% of patients. In our study, fenestrations occurred more often in the anterior than in the posterior circulation, and the most common location was the AcomA. A definite relationship between fenestrations and aneurysms cannot be concluded from our data.