Magnetic resonance angiographic study of the relationship between basilar artery bending and vertebral artery dominance

Objective To investigate the relationship between basilar artery bending and vertebral artery dominance.Methods A total of 110 subjects underwent 1.5T magnetic resonance angiographic(MRA) were involved in this study.The diameter of intracranial segment of vertebral artery,the diameter and length of basilar artery were measured.The morphology of the intracranial segment of vertebral artery and basilar artery.Correlation between them were analyzed.Results ①Vertebral artery left and right dominance were in 19.09%(21/110) and 7.27%(8/110).②The number of the basilar artery running straight and tortuous were in 75.45%(83/110)and 25.54%(27/110)respectively.The basilar artery bending to the left and right were respectively 6.36%(7/110) and 18.18%(20/110).③A significant correlation was found between basilar artery bending and dominance of intracranial segment of vertebral artery(r=0.61,P=0.000).Conclusion The intracranial segment of vertebral artery dominance leads to basilar artery tortuous.