Fetal origin of the posterior cerebral artery produces left-right asymmetry on perfusion imaging.
OBJECTIVE
Fetal origin of the PCA is a common anatomic variation of the circle of Willis. On perfusion imaging, patients with unilateral fetal-type PCA may demonstrate left-right asymmetry that could mimic cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between a fetal-type PCA and asymmetry of hemodynamic parameters derived from MR perfusion imaging.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed MR perfusion studies of 36 patients to determine the relationship between hemodynamic and vascular asymmetries in the PCA territory. Perfusion asymmetry indices for the PCA territory were computed from maps of rCBF, rCBV, MTT, T(max), and FMT. Vascular asymmetry indices were derived from calibers of the PCA-P1 segments relative to the posterior communicating arteries.


RESULTS
Asymmetrically smaller values of FMT and T(max) were observed with unilateral fetal-type PCA, and these were strongly correlated with the degree of vascular asymmetry (Spearman's rho = 0.76 and 0.74, respectively, P < 1 x 10(-6)). Asymmetries of rCBF, MTT, and rCBV were neither significant nor related to vascular asymmetry.


CONCLUSIONS
Faster perfusion transit times are seen for parameters sensitive to macrovascular transit effects (eg, FMT and T(max)) ipsilateral to fetal origin of the PCA in proportion to the degree of arterial asymmetry. Knowledge of this normal variation is critical in the interpretation of perfusion studies because asymmetry could mimic cerebrovascular pathology.
Wentland
A L
AL
Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA. alwentland@wisc.edu
Rowley
H A
HA
Vigen
K K
KK
Field
A S
AS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020769:Posterior Cerebral Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult