Widening and high inclination of the middle cerebral artery bifurcation are associated with presence of aneurysms.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-2014
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation is a preferred site for aneurysm formation. Wider bifurcation angles have been correlated with increased risk of aneurysm formation. We hypothesized a link between the presence of MCA aneurysms and the angle morphology of the bifurcation.
METHODS: Three-dimensional rotational angiography volumes of 146 MCA bifurcations (62 aneurysmal) were evaluated for angle morphology: parent-daughter angles (larger daughter Ф1, smaller daughter Ф2), bifurcation angle (Ф1+Ф2), and inclination angle (γ) between the parent vessel axis and the plane determined by daughter vessel axes. Statistics were evaluated using Wilcoxon rank-sum analysis and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve.
RESULTS: Aneurysmal bifurcations had wider inclination angle γ (median 57.8° versus 15.4°; P10°, compared with 25% nonaneurysmal. Ф1 and Ф2, but especially Ф1+Ф2, were significantly larger in aneurysmal bifurcations (median 171.3° versus 98.1°; P161°, compared with 0% nonaneurysmal MCAs. An optimal threshold of 140° was established for Ф1+Ф2 (area under the curve, 0.98). Sixty-eight percent of aneurysms originated off the daughter branches. Seventy-six percent of them originated off the branch with the largest branching angle, specifically if this was the smaller daughter branch. Wider Ф1+Ф2 correlated with aneurysm neck width, but not dome size.
CONCLUSIONS: MCA bifurcations harboring aneurysms have significantly larger branching angles and more often originate off the branch with the largest angle. Wider inclination angle is strongly correlated with aneurysm presence, a novel finding. The results point to altered wall shear stress regulation as a possible factor in aneurysm development and progression.
Volume
45
Issue
9
First Page
2649
Last Page
2655
ISSN
1524-4628
Published In/Presented At
Baharoglu, M. I., Lauric, A., Safain, M. G., Hippelheuser, J., Wu, C., & Malek, A. M. (2014). Widening and high inclination of the middle cerebral artery bifurcation are associated with presence of aneurysms. Stroke, 45(9), 2649–2655. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.005393
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
25116869
Department(s)
Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article