Evaluation of cervical vessels anomaly in basilar invagination:CTA features and analysis

SONG Xiaoyu; GONG Ruozhen

Abstract：Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate Cervical Vessels anomaly at the CVJ in patients with basilar invagination (BI) by computed tomographic angiography(CTA) and to discuss how to use imaging examinations to guide the se-lection of surgical methods. Methods This study included 28 patients with basilar invagination who underwent cervicocranial CTA examination. To observe vertebral artery variation at the CVJ and irregular midline carotid artery loop also was observed. Be-sides,150 normal subjects without any CVJ deformity were enrolled as normal control to evaluate the prevalence of Cervical Ves-sels anomaly in normal population. Results In the experimental group,the incidence of PFIA was 17.9%(5/28), FEN was 3.6%(1/28), PICA was 7. 1%(2/28), and the total incidence of extraosseous anomalous course of vertebral artery was 28.6%. The incidence of high riding vertebral artery 35.7%(10/28). The incidence of irregular midline carotid artery loop was 10.7%(3/28). In the control group,the incidence of FEN, PICA and PFIA were 0%(0/150),0.6%(1/150), 2.7%(4/150),respectively. The total incidence of extraosseous anomalous course of vertebral artery was 3.3%. The incidence of HRVA was 11.3%(17/150). We didn't find the irregular midline carotid artery loop in the control group. Conclusion Cervical Vessels anomaly is more frequent in BI patients. And preoperative CTA should be performed for this patient population.