Systematic Review of Morphometric Analysis of Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA) Emphasizing on Its Clinical Implications

The Anatomical Variation of the Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery: An Angiographic Study in a Greek Population Sample

Objective The current retrospective angiographic study establishes the rates of variants in the distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) in a sample of the Greek population. Methods Data were collected from 456 patients who underwent two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of the carotid and vertebral arteries bilaterally. The study focused on patients with good visualization of the anterior and posterior circulations and employed magnetic resonance (MR) or computed tomography (CT) angiography for 3D reconstruction. The anterior cerebral artery (ACA) was classified into one of its two basic configurations, that is, with or without the callosomarginal artery (CMA). The bihemispheric, median, and azygos ACA patterns were also identified. Results The majority (373/456, 81.8%) exhibited a typical DACA pattern. The bihemispheric, median, and azygos patterns were identified in 66/456 (14.5%), 10/456 (2.2%), and 7/456 (1.5%), respectively. The CMA was present in 824/912 (90.4%) of the hemispheres, with a trend toward male predominance for bilateral presence (males: 167/192, 86.98%; females: 210/264, 79.55%; p = 0.05). In particular, the CMA was present significantly more frequently (p = 0.002) in the left hemispheres of male patients. Gender differences in CMA presence persisted in the analysis of the patients with a typical DACA pattern. Conclusion This study provides insights into the variations of the DACA in the Greek population. The observed gender differences in CMA rates suggest potential morphological variations in cerebral vasculature between males and females and contribute to a better understanding of vascular anatomy for clinical and surgical applications.

Evaluation of unruptured aneurysm scoring systems and ratios in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms

Background

This study aims to appraise aneurysm scores and ratios' ability to discriminate between ruptured aneurysms and unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients harboring multiple intracranial aneurysms (MICAs). We, then, investigate the most frequent risk factors associated with MICAs.

Methods

We retrospectively applied unruptured intracranial aneurysm treatment score (UIATS) and population hypertension age size of aneurysm earlier SAH from another aneurysm site of aneurysm (PHASES) score, aspect, and dome-to-neck ratio to the 59 consecutive spontaneous SAH patients with MICAs admitted between January 2000 and December 2015 to the Department of Neurosurgery of the University Hospital Center "Hôpital des Spécialités" of Rabat (Morocco). Patients with at least two intracranial aneurysms (IAs) confirmed on angiography were included in the study.

Results

Fifty-nine patients were harboring 128 IAs. The most frequent patient-level risk factors were arterial hypertension (AHT) 30.5 % (n = 18) and smoking status 22.0 % (n = 13). A PHASES score recommended treatment in 52 of 60 ruptured aneurysms and in six of 68 UIAs with a sensitivity of 31.67% and a specificity of 76.47%. UIATS recommended treatment in 26 of 62 ruptured aneurysms and in 35 of 55 UIAs with a sensitivity of 41.9% and a specificity of 63.6%. Aspect ratio recommended treatment in 60 of 60 ruptured aneurysms and in 63 of 68 UIAs with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 88.24%. Dome-to-neck ratio recommended treatment in 45 of 60 ruptured aneurysms and in 48 of 68 UIAs with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 63.24%. The aspect ratio (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.953) AUC > 0.8 has a higher discriminatory power between ruptured aneurysms and UIAs.

Conclusion

AHT and smoking status were the most common risk factors for intracranial multiple aneurysms and the aspect ratio and PHASES score were the most powerful discrimination tools between ruptured aneurysms and the UIAs.