Affiliation:
1. Department of Radiology, Neurosurgery, and Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of proximal vertebral artery stenosis, compared with those of the distal vertebral/basilar artery and extracranial internal carotid artery, in a large population of stroke and non‐stroke patients. Material and Methods: Nine‐hundred‐and‐thirty‐five patients who underwent high‐resolution contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in a regional general hospital were categorized into six groups based on neurological symptoms and disease: an asymptomatic group ( n = 182), a minor symptom group with headache or dizziness ( n = 519), a cardiac group with coronary artery steno‐occlusive disease ( n = 15), a hemorrhagic group with old cerebral hemorrhage ( n = 26), an anterior circulation infarct group ( n = 121), and posterior circulation infarct group ( n = 72). Prevalence of stenosis of the proximal vertebral artery, distal vertebral/basilar artery, and internal carotid artery was analyzed. Results: The prevalence of stenosis of the proximal vertebral artery, distal vertebral/basilar artery, and internal carotid artery was 12.9%, 5.5%, and 7.2%, respectively, in the study population, and rose as the age increased ( P<0.0001 for all arteries). The prevalence of stenosis of the proximal vertebral artery, distal vertebral/basilar artery, and internal carotid artery was 3.3%, 0.5%, and 1.1%, respectively, in the asymptomatic group; 8.3%, 2.1%, and 3.7%, respectively, in the minor symptom group; 13.3%, 6.7%, and 6.7%, respectively, in the cardiac group; 19.2%, 7.7%, and 7.7%, respectively, in the hemorrhagic group; 27.3%, 8.3%, and 25.6%, respectively, in the anterior circulation infarct group; and 44.4%, 36.1%, and 16.7%, respectively, in the posterior circulation infarct group. This increasing tendency of stenosis accordingly was statistically significant ( P<0.0001 for all arteries). Conclusion: The prevalence of proximal vertebral artery stenosis was highest, compared with those of the distal vertebral/basilar artery and internal carotid artery, although the clinical significance of proximal vertebral artery stenosis should be investigated in further studies.
Subject
Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging,General Medicine,Radiological and Ultrasound Technology