Morphometric study of the bilateral middle cerebral arteries in patients with a unilateral aneurysm

Neurosurgery Department and the Department of Normal Anatomy of the Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz

Background: The middle cerebral artery (MCA) supplies a major part of the brain and is of considerable clinical importance as a common location of intracranial aneurysms. The aim of the present study was to analyze the bilateral MCAs in patients with unilateral aneurysms. Material and methods: Images of computed tomography angiography of 45 patients were analyzed. The morphometric parameters of MCA were measured. The measured parameters of the normal MCAs were compared with MCAs containing aneurysms located in the main trunk division. Results: No significant differences in the length of trunk and angles between the middle and anterior cerebral arteries were found between the non-affected and aneurysmatic MCAs. Concerning arteries with aneurysms, more branches originating from the main trunk division were found more frequently. The coexistence of the more frequent trifurcation of the MCA and an aneurysm constitutes evidence of greater anatomical variability of this arterial area in cases with a concomitant vascular malformation. Conclusions: This finding is consistent with literature data, showing the relationship between aneurysms and arterial variability and the fact that aneurysms are most often located at arterial divisions.