Change in basilar artery length and bending according to aging and vertebral artery dominance: A longitudinal study

Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 1;10(1):8904. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-65682-x.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the basilar artery (BA) geometric changes in a longitudinal study. 154 subjects with normal vertebrobasilar arterial systems on magnetic resonance angiography were assigned into two groups: 1) non-dominant vertebral artery (VA) and 2) VA dominance. We defined the dominant VA as either that the VA is 3 millimeters larger in diameter or the VA is connected to BA in a more straight angle. BA imaging was segmented to obtain BA bending length (BABL) and BA length (BAL). A mixed model ANOVA was conducted to investigate the impact of aging and VA dominance on the change of BABL and BAL after 123.6 ± 16.2 months. There was a significant main effect of VA dominance on the change of BABL after about 10 years, F (1,152) = 39.78, p < 0.01. On the other hand, there was a significant main effect of aging on the change of BAL during the same period of time, F (1,152) = 6.64, p = 0.01. Most subjects had an opposite directional relationship between the dominant VA and BA bending (71.3%; p < 0.01). Our study supported the hypothesis that the bending of the BA depends on the dominance of the VA, whereas the increased length of the BA depends on aging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / pathology*
  • Basilar Artery / diagnostic imaging*
  • Basilar Artery / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Vertebral Artery / diagnostic imaging*
  • Vertebral Artery / pathology