Anatomical Markers Associated With the Presence of Intracranial Aneurysms in Individuals Screened for Aneurysms

Background Hemodynamic stress is linked to the development of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and may be influenced by anatomic variation of intracranial arteries. We assessed diameters and bifurcation angles of intracranial arteries forming the circle of Willis in a cohort of individuals screened for...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Iris N. Vos, Rick J. van Tuijl, Liselore A. Mensing, Maud E. H. Ophelders, Mireille R. E. Velthuis, Nicolaas P. A. Zuithoff, Gabriel J. E. Rinkel, Hugo J. Kuijf, Jaco J. M. Zwanenburg, Irene C. van der Schaaf, Birgitta K. Velthuis, Ynte M. Ruigrok
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-07-01
Series:Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/SVIN.124.001299
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849734855906033664
author Iris N. Vos
Rick J. van Tuijl
Liselore A. Mensing
Maud E. H. Ophelders
Mireille R. E. Velthuis
Nicolaas P. A. Zuithoff
Gabriel J. E. Rinkel
Hugo J. Kuijf
Jaco J. M. Zwanenburg
Irene C. van der Schaaf
Birgitta K. Velthuis
Ynte M. Ruigrok
author_facet Iris N. Vos
Rick J. van Tuijl
Liselore A. Mensing
Maud E. H. Ophelders
Mireille R. E. Velthuis
Nicolaas P. A. Zuithoff
Gabriel J. E. Rinkel
Hugo J. Kuijf
Jaco J. M. Zwanenburg
Irene C. van der Schaaf
Birgitta K. Velthuis
Ynte M. Ruigrok
author_sort Iris N. Vos
collection DOAJ
description Background Hemodynamic stress is linked to the development of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and may be influenced by anatomic variation of intracranial arteries. We assessed diameters and bifurcation angles of intracranial arteries forming the circle of Willis in a cohort of individuals screened for the presence of IAs. Methods Individuals with and without IAs identified at screening with magnetic resonance angiography were compared. Diameters and bifurcation angles of the following arteries were measured using semiautomatic methods: A1 and A2 segments of the anterior cerebral artery, M1 and M2 segments of the middle cerebral artery, P1 segments of the posterior cerebral artery, posterior communicating artery (Pcom), internal carotid artery, vertebral artery, and basilar artery. We employed univariate general linear models to assess group differences. This included subgroup comparisons between individuals with IAs at specific locations and matched controls, and comparisons on group level between individuals with and without IAs, corrected for age and sex. Results In 94 of the 1049 individuals (9.0%) included, IAs were detected. Individuals with middle cerebral artery IAs had wider ipsilateral M2–M2 bifurcation angles compared with controls (121±25° versus 97±19°; P<0.01). Individuals with anterior communicating artery IAs showed smaller angles for the A1–A2 bifurcation (106±16° versus 120±17°; P = 0.02), while those with Pcom IAs had wider Pcom–C7 bifurcation angles (147±14° versus 127±17°; P = 0.02) and smaller diameters below the ipsilateral internal carotid artery top (2.86±0.36 mm versus 3.10±0.33 mm; P = 0.03) compared with controls. Conclusion We found associations between wider M2–M2 bifurcation angles or narrower A1–A2 bifurcation angles and IA presence, consistent with prior literature. Moreover, we uncovered previously unexplored associations, including wider Pcom–C7 bifurcation angles and smaller internal carotid artery diameters in individuals with Pcom IAs. Future research should explore the potential of these markers in predicting IAs in at‐risk populations during follow‐up screenings.
format Article
id doaj-art-0db75e6e0f2641b0ae4a9efe5f146e6d
institution DOAJ
issn 2694-5746
language English
publishDate 2024-07-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology
spelling doaj-art-0db75e6e0f2641b0ae4a9efe5f146e6d2025-08-20T03:07:41ZengWileyStroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology2694-57462024-07-014410.1161/SVIN.124.001299Anatomical Markers Associated With the Presence of Intracranial Aneurysms in Individuals Screened for AneurysmsIris N. Vos0Rick J. van Tuijl1Liselore A. Mensing2Maud E. H. Ophelders3Mireille R. E. Velthuis4Nicolaas P. A. Zuithoff5Gabriel J. E. Rinkel6Hugo J. Kuijf7Jaco J. M. Zwanenburg8Irene C. van der Schaaf9Birgitta K. Velthuis10Ynte M. Ruigrok11Image Sciences Institute University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht NetherlandsImage Sciences Institute University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht NetherlandsDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht University NetherlandsDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht University NetherlandsDepartment of Radiology University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht NetherlandsJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht NetherlandsDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht University NetherlandsImage Sciences Institute University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht NetherlandsImage Sciences Institute University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht NetherlandsDepartment of Radiology University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht NetherlandsDepartment of Radiology University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht NetherlandsDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht University NetherlandsBackground Hemodynamic stress is linked to the development of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) and may be influenced by anatomic variation of intracranial arteries. We assessed diameters and bifurcation angles of intracranial arteries forming the circle of Willis in a cohort of individuals screened for the presence of IAs. Methods Individuals with and without IAs identified at screening with magnetic resonance angiography were compared. Diameters and bifurcation angles of the following arteries were measured using semiautomatic methods: A1 and A2 segments of the anterior cerebral artery, M1 and M2 segments of the middle cerebral artery, P1 segments of the posterior cerebral artery, posterior communicating artery (Pcom), internal carotid artery, vertebral artery, and basilar artery. We employed univariate general linear models to assess group differences. This included subgroup comparisons between individuals with IAs at specific locations and matched controls, and comparisons on group level between individuals with and without IAs, corrected for age and sex. Results In 94 of the 1049 individuals (9.0%) included, IAs were detected. Individuals with middle cerebral artery IAs had wider ipsilateral M2–M2 bifurcation angles compared with controls (121±25° versus 97±19°; P<0.01). Individuals with anterior communicating artery IAs showed smaller angles for the A1–A2 bifurcation (106±16° versus 120±17°; P = 0.02), while those with Pcom IAs had wider Pcom–C7 bifurcation angles (147±14° versus 127±17°; P = 0.02) and smaller diameters below the ipsilateral internal carotid artery top (2.86±0.36 mm versus 3.10±0.33 mm; P = 0.03) compared with controls. Conclusion We found associations between wider M2–M2 bifurcation angles or narrower A1–A2 bifurcation angles and IA presence, consistent with prior literature. Moreover, we uncovered previously unexplored associations, including wider Pcom–C7 bifurcation angles and smaller internal carotid artery diameters in individuals with Pcom IAs. Future research should explore the potential of these markers in predicting IAs in at‐risk populations during follow‐up screenings.https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/SVIN.124.001299arterial diametersbifurcation angelscircle of Willisimaging markersintracranial aneurysmsmagnetic resonance angiography
spellingShingle Iris N. Vos
Rick J. van Tuijl
Liselore A. Mensing
Maud E. H. Ophelders
Mireille R. E. Velthuis
Nicolaas P. A. Zuithoff
Gabriel J. E. Rinkel
Hugo J. Kuijf
Jaco J. M. Zwanenburg
Irene C. van der Schaaf
Birgitta K. Velthuis
Ynte M. Ruigrok
Anatomical Markers Associated With the Presence of Intracranial Aneurysms in Individuals Screened for Aneurysms
Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology
arterial diameters
bifurcation angels
circle of Willis
imaging markers
intracranial aneurysms
magnetic resonance angiography
title Anatomical Markers Associated With the Presence of Intracranial Aneurysms in Individuals Screened for Aneurysms
title_full Anatomical Markers Associated With the Presence of Intracranial Aneurysms in Individuals Screened for Aneurysms
title_fullStr Anatomical Markers Associated With the Presence of Intracranial Aneurysms in Individuals Screened for Aneurysms
title_full_unstemmed Anatomical Markers Associated With the Presence of Intracranial Aneurysms in Individuals Screened for Aneurysms
title_short Anatomical Markers Associated With the Presence of Intracranial Aneurysms in Individuals Screened for Aneurysms
title_sort anatomical markers associated with the presence of intracranial aneurysms in individuals screened for aneurysms
topic arterial diameters
bifurcation angels
circle of Willis
imaging markers
intracranial aneurysms
magnetic resonance angiography
url https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/SVIN.124.001299
work_keys_str_mv AT irisnvos anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms
AT rickjvantuijl anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms
AT liseloreamensing anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms
AT maudehophelders anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms
AT mireillerevelthuis anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms
AT nicolaaspazuithoff anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms
AT gabrieljerinkel anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms
AT hugojkuijf anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms
AT jacojmzwanenburg anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms
AT irenecvanderschaaf anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms
AT birgittakvelthuis anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms
AT yntemruigrok anatomicalmarkersassociatedwiththepresenceofintracranialaneurysmsinindividualsscreenedforaneurysms