title: A fetal circle of Willis is associated with a decreased deep white matter lesion load.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between morphologic differences in the circle of Willis and the presence and location of white matter lesions (WMLs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred forty-three consecutive patients with clinical manifestations of atherosclerotic disease underwent MRI of the brain and MR angiography of the circle of Willis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with a fetal configuration of the circle of Willis demonstrated a decreased load of small (p < 0.01) and medium (p < 0.01) deep WMLs compared with subjects with a nonfetal configuration of the posterior part of the circle of Willis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A fetal configuration of the posterior part of the circle of Willis may be an important protecting determinant in the etiology of white matter lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, E01.132, University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. j.vandergrond@azu.nl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Grond
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: van Raamt
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: van der Graaf
authors.forename: W P T M
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Mali
authors.forename: R H C
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bisschops
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*