Abstract Introduction: Circulus arteriosus cerebri , commonly referred as the circle of Willis, is a pivotal arterial anastomotic network located within the interpeduncular cistern at the base of the brain that ensures collateral blood flow to the entire brain. Anatomical variations in this structure are common and can influence the risk of cerebrovascular diseases. Understanding these variations in specific populations is crucial for clinical practice, particularly in regions like Western Maharashtra, where such data is scarce. Our cross-sectional cadaveric study aimed to investigate the prevalence, types of anatomical variants, and morphometric parameters of the circulus arteriosus cerebri in the adult population of Western Maharashtra. Methodology: Over 30 months, the circulus arteriosus cerebri of 67 well-embalmed formalin-fixed adult cadaveric brains from a medical institution in Western Maharashtra were dissected and analyzed for structural entirety, bilateral symmetry, specific variations, and morphometric parameters. Results: The study found that 62.7% of cadavers had a complete circle of Willis, while 37.3% exhibited various anatomical variations, with a higher prevalence on the right side of the circle and more frequent occurrences in the posterior circulation compared to the anterior. Among these, hypoplasia of the posterior communicating artery was the most common variation, followed by aplasia of the anterior communicating artery. Conclusions: The study explores structural deviations and morphometric measurements of the circle of Willis in Western Maharashtra’s adult population, offering crucial insights with clinical relevance for diagnosing and managing neurovascular conditions. These variations impact cerebral perfusion and surgical outcomes, necessitating the need for further research to refine cerebrovascular treatment and preoperative strategies.
Roy et al. (2025) studied this question.