Neuroradiological Analysis of 23 Cases of Basilar Artery Fenestration Based on 2280 Cases of MR Angiographies.

SUMMARY: Basilar artery (BA) fenestrations are the most frequently observed variant of the cerebral arteries. We examined the magnetic resonance (MR) angiographic incidence, location, characteristic configuration of BA fenestration and associated vascular disease. From April 2004 to September 2004, a total of 2280 cranial MR angiographies were performed at our institution. Twenty-three BA fenestrations (1.0%) were detected on MRA. There were 13 males and ten females in this group and mean age was 57.6 years old. Three cases of these fenestration group are suffered with atherothrombic infarction in the territory of vertebro-basilar system. Seven of 23 cases (30%) were associated with intracranial aneurysm. Of those four cases, aneurysms were located at anterior circulation. Of those three cases, the aneurysms were associated with BA fenestration. Since saccular aneurysms are reported to arise frequently at BA fenestration, knowledge and recognition of fenestration are useful and important in the interpretation of cerebral MR angiography.