Clinical application of multislice spiral CT angiography in evaluation of anomalous vertebral artery

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of 16-slice spiral computed tomography angiography(MSCTA)in evaluation of anomalous vertebral artery.Methods MSCTA data from 32 patients with anomalous vertebral artery were retrospectively analyzed.Results 22 cases had vertebral artery course variation(bended into the C5,C4 or C3 foramen transversarium),7 cases had variation in the prevertebral segments of vertebral arteries,15 patients had unilateral vertebral congenital stenosis,1 case had double vertebral artery branch,1 case had vertebral arterial fenestration,and 2 cases had vertebral artery in one side that did not converged upon basilar artery and unilateral vertebral artery formed basilar artery.Conclusion MSCTA is a useful noninvasive imaging tool for the diagnosis of vertebral artery variations.