Key result
CT angiography identifies fetal posterior cerebral artery as the most common intracranial variant in ~64% of patients.
Why the study?
Anatomical variations of intracranial arteries influence cerebral blood flow, collateral circulation, and cerebrovascular imaging interpretation, making their identification and characterization important for accurate diagnosis and procedural planning.
Cross-Sectional (n=50)
Yes
This observational study characterizes the high prevalence of intracranial arterial anatomical variants—particularly fetal-type posterior cerebral artery and anterior cerebral artery hypoplasia/aplasia—on CT imaging in a Bangladeshi patient cohort.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Warrants awareness of variants during cerebrovascular imaging and procedures; leaves open whether prevalence data should alter diagnostic protocols.
Background: Anatomical variations of intracranial arteries are common and may influence cerebral blood flow, collateral circulation, and the interpretation of cerebrovascular imaging. Their identification is important for accurate diagnosis and procedural planning. Objective: To assess the anatomical variants of intracranial arteries and describe their distribution among the study population. Method: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Bangladesh Medical College and Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital & Research Institute, Bangladesh, from July 2024 to June 2025. A total of 50 patients with CT scan images suitable for assessing intracranial arterial anatomy were included. The anterior and posterior circulations were systematically evaluated for variations in arterial calibre, origin, course, branching pattern, and configuration. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented as frequencies and percentages. Results: Among the 50 participants, 29 (58.0%) were male and 14 (28.0%) were aged 40–49 years. In the anterior circulation, anterior cerebral artery hypoplasia was recorded in 16 (32.0%) participants and aplasia in 14 (28.0%). Early bifurcation of the middle cerebral artery was observed in 7 (14.0%), while trifurcation occurred in 5 (10.0%). In the posterior circulation, the fetal pattern of the posterior cerebral artery was the most frequently recorded variant, occurring in 32 (64.0%) participants, followed by posterior cerebral artery hypoplasia in 11 (22.0%). Multiple superior cerebellar arteries were recorded in 13 (26.0%) participants. Conclusion: Conclusion: The study identified diverse anatomical variations of intracranial arteries, with anterior cerebral artery hypoplasia and aplasia being the most frequent anterior circulation variants, while the fetal pattern of the posterior cerebral artery was the most frequently recorded posterior circulation variant. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing intracranial arterial variations during imaging assessment.
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Barua et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Anatomical variations of intracranial arteries (n=50). CT scan assessment of intracranial arterial anatomy was evaluated on Distribution of anatomical variants of intracranial arteries (most frequently fetal pattern of the posterior cerebral artery). CT assessment of 50 patients identified fetal posterior cerebral artery and anterior cerebral artery hypoplasia or aplasia as the most common intracranial variants.
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