Magnetic resonance angiographic assessment of the relationship between posterior communicating artery and posterior circulation

Objective To investigate the relationship between the posterior communicating artery(PcoA) and the shape of the posterior cerebral artery and basilar artery with 3.0T magnetic resonance angiography(MRA).Methods A total of 108 subjects underwent MRA and conventional MRI.The diameter of P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery was recorded.The state of PcoA was observed,and the length and diameter of the basilar artery was measured.Then statistic analysis was performed.Results There was relationship between the diameter of P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery and PcoA(Kendall rank correlation,right: Correlation coefficient rk=0.44,P0.01;left: Correlation coefficient rk=0.50,P0.01).The straight line length of the basilar artery in subjects whose bilateral PCoA undeveloped was longer than those unilateral or bilateral communicating artery developed(P0.05).The average diameter of the basilar artery in subjects whose bilateral PCoA undeveloped was wider than those unilateral or bilateral communicating artery developed(P0.01).Conclusion The diameter of P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery,the length and diameter of the basilar artery associate with whether the PCoA developing or not.