Variation in the origin of the posterior cerebral artery in adult Sri Lankans

Abstract

This study reveals that the internal carotid artery (ICA) provided the major supply to the PCA in 4.4% of foetal and 2.2% of transitional configurations. The adult configuration was present in 220 (93.3%), the highest recorded in the literature. This finding may be of relevance to vertebrobasilar ischaemia and infarcts in the territory of the PCA.

Comparison of the configuration of the posterior bifurcation of the posterior communicating artery between fetal and adult brains: A study of a Sri Lankan population

“…TC (P1 and the PcomA have the same diameter) in the fetal brains was 7% in the present study and 20% in study by Overbeeke et al .,[12] and Ardakani et al .,[9] as compared to 2% in adult brains. [212] The AC (P1 larger than the PcoA on the same side) was the most predominant configuration seen in adult brains: 73.5%,[4] 84%,[12] and 93%[2] as compared to fetal brains: Caucasian dominant studies 60-70%,[12] and 19%,[13] and in Asian studies: 60-70% Ardakani et al .,[9] and 59% in the present study. It is evident that from the last trimester of pregnancy to adulthood there is a shift of blood flow from the carotid system to the vertebrobasilar system and that the shift shows a marked variation among diverse ethnic and racial populations.…”

“…In the present study, among the older fetuses, the FC was 34% and the AC 59% compared to 4.4% and 93 % in adult brains. [2] The TC was 7% in fetal brains as compared to 2% in adult brains which implies that that from the newborn to the adult there is a blood flow shift from the carotid system to the vertebrobasilar system.…”

“…FC in adult brains ranged from 4% to 46% as reported in anatomical studies,[1–8] part of the reason for the wide variation in the fetal configuration reported in several previous studies may be due to the diversity in nomenclature of cerebral arteries of the CW and many have relied upon rough estimations of the vessel diameter, rather than accurate measurements in determining the configurations. Accurate measurement of the external diameter of all of the component vessels of the CW in adult brains has previously been performed[2512] and in fetal brains by Overbeeke et al, 1991[12] Ardakani et al ., 2008,[9] and the present study. TC (P1 and the PcomA have the same diameter) in the fetal brains was 7% in the present study and 20% in study by Overbeeke et al .,[12] and Ardakani et al .,[9] as compared to 2% in adult brains.…”

“…The purpose of this study was to examine the degree of contribution from the vertebrobasilar and carotid systems to the origin of the PCA in fetal autopsy brains of last trimester of pregnancy and to compare with published data on the configuration of adult brains in a population of Sri Lankan origin,[2] and to discuss with similar studies published in other ethnic or racial populations: Caucasian dominant studies[1213] and in Asian studies (Iran)[9] and to compare with published data on the configurations of adult brains in the Netherlands[4] and India[5] in order to understand the degree of contribution from the vertebrobasilar and carotid systems to the origin of the PCA from fetus to the adult.…”

Internal carotid artery dissection: An unusual cause of occipital infarction

“…Fetal PCA arising predominantly from the ICA is seen in 4.4% of the Sri Lankan population, while in India the incidence remains as high as 25%. [9] This mechanism of stroke has been described. [10]…”