Key result
Cadaveric dissections show aplastic anterior communicating artery in ~3% of brains as primary variation.
Why the study?
Knowledge of the anterior circulation anatomy of the Polygon of Willis is critical for managing anterior cerebral circulation aneurysms, but racial and sex variations alongside differing methodologies have complicated systematic description of these vascular variations.
Cross-Sectional (n=200)
This anatomical study identifies the prevalence of anterior cerebral circulation variations in an Eastern Indian population, with aplastic Anterior Communicating Artery being the most frequent anomaly (3%), which has implications for neurosurgical planning and aneurysm management.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Anticipate anterior Circle of Willis variants in aneurysm surgery; leaves open their impact on procedural risk.
Background: The knowledge of anatomy of anterior circulation of Polygon of Willis, which is accessible from the basal aspect of brain is utmost important from the surgical point of view, as it plays a critical role in anterior cerebral circulation aneurysms. Racial and gender variations, difference in materials and methods and several other factors had made systematic description of this vascular variations complicated. Aim of the current study was to thoroughly observe and describe the anatomical vascular variations in anterior circulation of Polygon of Willis and compare the findings with previous studies. Methods: 200 intact cadaveric human brains irrespective of age or sex, without any obvious intracranial pathology or gross brain destruction were recruited as study samples in unpreserved form as forensic autopsy cases and as formalin preserved donated bodies. All the brains were dissected carefully, observed thoroughly, labelled and photographed to find out the vascular variations in anterior circulation. Results: The most common variation found in the current study was aplastic Anterior Communicating Artery (AComA) seen in 3% of the brain samples (6/200) followed by hypoplastic AComA 2% (4/200), duplicated AComA 2% (4/200) and plexiform AComA in 1% (2/200) of the samples. The most frequent variation found in Anterior Cerebral Artery (ACA) was triplicated A2 segment or Persistent Median Artery of Corpus Callosum in 2% of the samples (4/200) followed by unilateral aplastic A1 segment 1.5% (3/200), unilateral hypoplastic A1 segment 1% (2/200) and bihemispheric ACA seen in 1% (2/200) of the samples. Conclusion: The most common variation had been aplastic Anterior Communicating Artery (AComA) and the least common variation had been plexiform AcomA. The findings of the present study can be compared to the incidence of neuromuscular accidents occurring in the sample population. The knowledge of the study can be utilised for treatment and prognosis purpose
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A 2026 study conducted a cross-sectional in Anatomical variations in the anterior circulation of the Polygon of Willis (n=200). Anatomical dissection of the anterior cerebral circulation was evaluated on Prevalence of anatomical vascular variations in the anterior circulation of the Polygon of Willis (most commonly aplastic Anterior Communicating Artery). Anatomical dissection of 200 cadaveric brains revealed aplastic anterior communicating artery and triplicated A2 segment as the most common anterior circulation variations.
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