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3135530 
Journal Article 
Evaluation of vertebral artery dominance, hypoplasia and variations in the origin: angiographic study in 254 patients 
Ergun, O; Gunes Tatar, I; Birgi, E; Hekimoglu, B 
2015 
1 
Folia Morphologica
ISSN: 0015-5659
EISSN: 1644-3284 
English 
26365867 
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the dimensional characteristics and variations in the origin of vertebral arteries (VA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed angiographic studies in 254 patients (133 males, 121 females) for the evaluation of diameter differences in VA. We examined different criteria from the literature (difference of ≥ 0.3 mm, ≥ 0.8 mm, ≥ 1 mm between the widths of two VA and diameter ratio more than 1.4) to find out the dominant vertebral artery, rate of co-dominance and hypoplasia. The differences among groups were analyzed using the χ-square and Kruskal Wallis Test. Also Concordance Analysis Test was used to determine correspondence between the tests. We also noticed the variations in the origin of VA.

RESULTS: The average diameter of VA in 254 patients was 3.21±0.7 mm on the right, and 3.16±0.7 mm on the left. The average diameter difference was found 0.88±0.7 mm. The rate of hypoplasia was found 7.1% on the right and 9.4% on the left. Among 254 patients according to the criterion of any diameter difference; right side was found wider in 126 (49.6%) patients and left side was found wider in 120 (47.2%) patients. The criterion of 0.3 mm or greater difference showed right vertebral artery dominance in 107 (42.1%) patients, left vertebral artery dominance in 99 (39%) patients. Co-dominance was mainly observed when we used the criteria of 0.8 and 1 mm or greater difference and diameter ratio more than 1.4. We found out harmony of two criterion of difference of ≥0.8 mm and ≥1 mm (Concordance analysis test, 76.1%). There was no statistically significant relation between age, gender and any dominance criteria (p>0.05). The majority of VA showed classical origin arising from both subclavian arteries with a rate of 94.9%.

CONCLUSIONS: The most striking result we have found is the dominance of the right vertebral artery in diameter by using all different criteria unlike with previous reports in the literature.