The magnetic resonance angiography imaging anatomy characters of tortuous basilar artery in healthy adults

Objective To investigate imaging anatomical features and factors affecting tortuous basilar artery in healthy adult using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Methods MRA data of 160 healthy adults with tortuous basilar artery, who examined in Beijing Fengtai Hospital from March 2015 to May 2016, were retrospectively analyzed. There were 99 males and 61 females, aged from 30 to 65 years. The morphology and direction of the basilar artery and the intracranial vertebral artery were observed on the MIP image reconstructed by MRA. Results In 160 adults with tortuous basilar artery, 104 (65.0%), 56(35.0%) adults were found to be the basilar artery bending to the right and left respectively, and there was significantly statistical difference. Among 104 adults with a basilar artery bending to right, 84(80.8%) had a dominant left vertebral artery, and among 56 adults with a basilar artery bending to left, 23(41.1%) had a dominant right vertebral artery, there was significantly statistical difference (P 0.05) in the direction and confluence position of bilateral vertebral artery between the two groups. Conclusions The healthy adults with tortuous basilar artery mostly accompanied with variability of vertebral artery dominance. Because of its hemodynamic characteristics, vertebral artery dominance is one of anatomical factors affecting basilar artery. Key words: Basilar artery; Vertebral artery; Magnetic resonance angiography; Anatomic variation