Diagnostic value of cerebral vascular DSA in vertebral artery variation

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of cerebral vascular DSA in vertebral artery variation, understand the types of vertebral artery variation and the imaging characteristics of vertebral artery variation. Methods Nine hundred and forty-six patients received cerebral vascular DSA in our hospital from October 2010 to May 2015 were chosen. DSA characteristics of patients with vertebral artery variations were analyzed and the vertebral artery variation types and incidence were conformed. Results There were 140 patients with vertebral artery variations. Sixteen patients (1.7%) was diagnosed with anomalous origin of vertebral artery, including 14 of left vertebral artery anomalous origin, 2 of right vertebral artery anomalous origin. One patient (0.1%) had persistent trigeminal artery originated from the right internal carotid artery and one patient (0.1%) had proatlantal intersegmental artery originated from the left external carotid artery. The vertebral artery of 10 patients (1%) was found with fenestration. The posterior inferior cerebellar artery of 25 patients (2.6%) was originated from the lower portion of extracranial location. Ninety-two patients (9.7%) were found with vertebral artery hypoplasia, including 54 with right vertebral artery hypoplasia and 38 with left vertebral artery hypoplasia. There were 12 patients with anastomosis abnormalities in the vertebral artery hypoplasia, including 4 with right vertebral artery anastomosis abnormalities, and 8 with left vertebral artery anastomosis abnormalities. Conclusion Cerebral vascular DSA can clearly show the location and shape of vertebral artery variation, and it is important in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular disease, interventional treatment and posterior fossa surgery. Key words: Vertebral artery; Artery variation; Digital subtraction angiography