Sex-specific anatomical variation of circle of Willis arteries
Background: Anatomical variations in the circle of Willis (CoW) arteries are common and can affect hemodynamic stress, thereby influencing the risk of cerebrovascular pathology. Previous studies have suggested sex differences in CoW anatomy, but findings vary due to limited study population size and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-02-01
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| Series: | NeuroImage |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925000370 |
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| author | Phebe J. Groenheide Iris N. Vos Robin Bülow Irene C. van der Schaaf Birgitta K. Velthuis Ynte M. Ruigrok |
| author_facet | Phebe J. Groenheide Iris N. Vos Robin Bülow Irene C. van der Schaaf Birgitta K. Velthuis Ynte M. Ruigrok |
| author_sort | Phebe J. Groenheide |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Anatomical variations in the circle of Willis (CoW) arteries are common and can affect hemodynamic stress, thereby influencing the risk of cerebrovascular pathology. Previous studies have suggested sex differences in CoW anatomy, but findings vary due to limited study population size and different measurement methods. This study aims to investigate sex differences in artery diameters, anatomical variants and bifurcation angles of the CoW using a large population cohort and semi-automatic measurements. Methods: Sex-specific CoW anatomical variations were assessed using Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) scans of 1,052 individuals without intracranial vascular abnormalities. Diameters and bifurcation angles of large CoW arteries (>1.2 mm) were measured with a semi-automatic tool. Diameters of smaller anterior communicating artery (Acom) and posterior communicating arteries (Pcoms) and the anatomical variants of the CoW were determined manually. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and logistic regression models with adjustments for covariates were used to compare anatomical variations between sexes. Results: Men exhibited larger diameters in all semi-automatically measured CoW arteries. A complete anterior CoW was more prevalent in men than women, while there was no difference for the posterior CoW. Aplasia/hypoplasia of the Acom was more prevalent in women. Aplasia/hypoplasia of one Pcom was more common in women, while aplasia/hypoplasia of both Pcoms was more common in men. No sex differences were found in CoW bifurcation angles and in the occurrence of fetal-type posterior cerebral arteries. Conclusion: This study identified significant CoW differences in artery diameters and anatomical variants between sexes, while bifurcation angles between arteries were comparable. Future research should investigate the association between these sex-specific CoW variations and cerebrovascular pathology. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9f3dc8241477490d8bb19078be80b1d8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1095-9572 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | NeuroImage |
| spelling | doaj-art-9f3dc8241477490d8bb19078be80b1d82025-02-06T05:11:08ZengElsevierNeuroImage1095-95722025-02-01307121035Sex-specific anatomical variation of circle of Willis arteriesPhebe J. Groenheide0Iris N. Vos1Robin Bülow2Irene C. van der Schaaf3Birgitta K. Velthuis4Ynte M. Ruigrok5Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the NetherlandsImage Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the NetherlandsInstitute for Diagnostic Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyDepartment of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the NetherlandsDepartment of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the NetherlandsDepartment of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Netherlands; Correspondence: Ynte M. Ruigrok, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, room G03.228, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands, Tel: +31-88-7558600.Background: Anatomical variations in the circle of Willis (CoW) arteries are common and can affect hemodynamic stress, thereby influencing the risk of cerebrovascular pathology. Previous studies have suggested sex differences in CoW anatomy, but findings vary due to limited study population size and different measurement methods. This study aims to investigate sex differences in artery diameters, anatomical variants and bifurcation angles of the CoW using a large population cohort and semi-automatic measurements. Methods: Sex-specific CoW anatomical variations were assessed using Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) scans of 1,052 individuals without intracranial vascular abnormalities. Diameters and bifurcation angles of large CoW arteries (>1.2 mm) were measured with a semi-automatic tool. Diameters of smaller anterior communicating artery (Acom) and posterior communicating arteries (Pcoms) and the anatomical variants of the CoW were determined manually. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) and logistic regression models with adjustments for covariates were used to compare anatomical variations between sexes. Results: Men exhibited larger diameters in all semi-automatically measured CoW arteries. A complete anterior CoW was more prevalent in men than women, while there was no difference for the posterior CoW. Aplasia/hypoplasia of the Acom was more prevalent in women. Aplasia/hypoplasia of one Pcom was more common in women, while aplasia/hypoplasia of both Pcoms was more common in men. No sex differences were found in CoW bifurcation angles and in the occurrence of fetal-type posterior cerebral arteries. Conclusion: This study identified significant CoW differences in artery diameters and anatomical variants between sexes, while bifurcation angles between arteries were comparable. Future research should investigate the association between these sex-specific CoW variations and cerebrovascular pathology.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925000370Circle of WillisSex differenceAnatomical variantBifurcation angleSemi-automatic measurementMR angiography |
| spellingShingle | Phebe J. Groenheide Iris N. Vos Robin Bülow Irene C. van der Schaaf Birgitta K. Velthuis Ynte M. Ruigrok Sex-specific anatomical variation of circle of Willis arteries NeuroImage Circle of Willis Sex difference Anatomical variant Bifurcation angle Semi-automatic measurement MR angiography |
| title | Sex-specific anatomical variation of circle of Willis arteries |
| title_full | Sex-specific anatomical variation of circle of Willis arteries |
| title_fullStr | Sex-specific anatomical variation of circle of Willis arteries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex-specific anatomical variation of circle of Willis arteries |
| title_short | Sex-specific anatomical variation of circle of Willis arteries |
| title_sort | sex specific anatomical variation of circle of willis arteries |
| topic | Circle of Willis Sex difference Anatomical variant Bifurcation angle Semi-automatic measurement MR angiography |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925000370 |
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