title: Histopathologic evaluation of basilar artery atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been limited attention to pathological features of basilar artery atherosclerosis. It has been assumed that pathology of basilar artery atherosclerosis mimics that of other vascular beds.
  
  
  METHODS
  To define the nature of the basilar artery atherosclerotic lesions, we analyzed postmortem intracranial artery samples from eight subjects with history of stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atherosclerotic lesions were present in 7/8 arteries examined, with a mean estimated stenosis of 34%. Lumen thrombus with a disrupted fibrous cap was seen in 1 lesion; the remaining 6 lesions revealed a thick fibrous cap. Neovascularity and calcification were seen in 1 lesion and mild to moderate inflammation was seen in 3 lesions. Necrotic core was present in 4/7 lesions, and was associated with plaque rupture in the only disrupted lesion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Basilar artery atherosclerotic lesions were relatively benign in this series of patients presenting with stroke. While confirmation is needed with larger sample size, the relative paucity of neovascularity suggests a possibly distinctive histopathological profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, UC Irvine, Orange, CA 92868, USA.
authors.forename: Artak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Labadzhyan
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Csiba
authors.forename: Navneet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Narula
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jagat
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Narula
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D014651:Vasa Vasorum / Q000473:pathology; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology*