Fenestrations of intracranial arteries detected with 3D rotational angiography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Fenestrations of intracranial arteries are variants resulting from incomplete fusion of primitive vessels. An association with aneurysms is suggested in many studies. On conventional angiography, fenestrations are rarely visible. 3D rotational angiography (3DRA) provides improved visualization of cerebral vessels from any desired angle. We used 3DRA to assess the frequency and location of fenestrations of intracranial arteries and a possible relationship with aneurysms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In 208 patients with suspected intracranial aneurysms, 3DRA of 1, 2, or 3 cerebral vessels (in 143, 16, and 49 patients) was reviewed for the presence and location of fenestrations and aneurysms. When fenestrations were present in combination with aneurysms, we noted the relationship of the locations.

RESULTS

In 59 of 208 patients, 61 fenestrations were detected (28%). Fenestrations were more frequent in the anterior than in the posterior circulation (23% versus 7%), and the most common location was the anterior communicating artery (AcomA) (43 of 61, 70%). The frequency of fenestrations in 185 patients with aneurysms was not different from the frequency in 23 patients without aneurysms. Of 220 aneurysms present in 208 patients, 10 aneurysms (4.5%) were located on a fenestration. Of 61 fenestrations, 51 (84%) were not associated with an aneurysm.

CONCLUSIONS

With 3DRA, fenestrations were found in 28% of patients. In our study, fenestrations occurred more often in the anterior than in the posterior circulation, and the most common location was the AcomA. A definite relationship between fenestrations and aneurysms cannot be concluded from our data.