title: Detection of cerebral artery fenestrations by computed tomography angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cerebral artery fenestrations (CAF) are rare congenital variations usually diagnosed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of occurrence of fenestrations in cerebral arteries and their coexistence with cerebral aneurysms in computed tomography angiography (CTA).
  
  
  METHODS
  All reports of cerebral CTA (1140) performed in one institution from March 2005 to December 2007 were analysed. We found 40 patients with single fenestrations of the intracranial arteries. All 40 examinations were retrospectively reviewed for location of vascular malformations and presence of aneurysms or subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Medical histories of those patients were then analysed for evidence of SAH and referral reasons for CTA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty fenestrated arteries were found in CTA: 18 basilar arteries (45%), 16 anterior cerebral arteries (40%), 4 anterior communicating arteries (10%) and one middle cerebral artery (2.5%). Only one vertebral artery fenestration was found due to the technique of the examination. Six patients (15%) with fenestrated arteries had a total of 8 aneurysms, although only one aneurysm was ipsilateral to the fenestration. In 8 cases of SAH, two were with no evidence of vascular malformation. The coexistence of CAF and aneurysms in CTA amounted to 15% (6/40), but the incidence of ipsilateral aneurysm was only 2.5% (1/40) and it affected the anterior cerebral artery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Basilar artery fenestration is the most frequent observed fenestration in CTA, followed by anterior cerebral artery and anterior communicating artery fenestrations. Coexistence of fenestration and aneurysm is uncommon in CTA examination.
authors: SP Szpital Kliniczny nr 1 w Zabrzu SUM, Zakład Radiologii, 41-800 Zabrze. pt.bozek@gmail.com
authors: Paweł
authors: P
authors: Bożek
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Pilch-Kowalczyk
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Kluczewska
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Zymon-Zagórska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020771:Anterior Cerebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed