Pattern of circle of Willis between normal subject and patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque
- Author:
Hyo Sung Kwak
;
Seung Bae Hwang
;
Gyung Ho Chung
;
Sang Yong
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Circle of Willis
- From:Neurology Asia
2015;20(1):7-14
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective: We investigated whether circle of Willis (COW) morphology on 3D time-of-flight (TOF)
MR angiography differs between young normal subjects, older normal subjects, and patients with
carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: One hundred seventy-seven subjects were grouped according
to age into a young group (20 – 40 years; n = 91) and an older group (> 60 years; n = 86). Subjects
underwent brain MR examination as part of a health check-up. Fifty-three patients with carotid
atherosclerotic plaque were also included for evaluation in this study. COW morphology on 3D TOF
MR angiography was analyzed in terms of completeness or incompleteness of the anterior and posterior
components of the circle and completeness of the circle. Results: An incomplete pattern of anterior
circulation was significantly more common in carotid atherosclerotic plaque patients (20.7%) than
normal older subjects (5.5%) (p < 0.01). A complete posterior circulation pattern was more frequent
in normal young subjects (46.5%) than in normal older subjects (16.5%) or the patient group (18.9%)
(p < 0.01). Of patients with carotid artery stenosis, 18.9% had a bilateral incomplete connection and
were significantly more likely to have an incomplete pattern than normal young (2.3%) or normal
older subjects (2.2%) (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Young, healthy subjects were significantly more likely to have a complete pattern of posterior
circulation than older subjects. Patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were significantly more
likely to have incomplete anterior circulation and an incomplete circle than young, normal subjects.
- Full text:P020150623384843210947.pdf
