Application of CTA and MRA in Diagnosis of Vertebrobasilar Arterial Fenestration

Objective To explore the imaging characteristics and clinical significances of vertebrobasilar arterial fenestration. Materials and Methods Fifteen craniocervical CT angiography (CTA),six cranial and one cervical MR angiography (MRA) and four DSA studies in 22 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results These 22 patients had twenty-two fenestrated arteries:nine vertebral arteries (five in extracranial portion and four in intracranial portion) and thirteen basilar arteries (all in proximal portion). In twenty-two fenestrated arteries,ten of them were small with slit-pattern,nine were larger with convex-lens-pattern and three were duplication-pattern. All fenestrations demonstrated localized duplication vessels. In all patients,four aneurysms in four patients and abnormal origin of left internal carotid artery in one patient were found. Conclusion CTA and MRA could exactly demonstrated the location,shape and adjacent structures of vertebrobasilar arterial fenestration. Other associated vascular anomalies should bewared.