Anatomy and clinical significance of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery

Abstract

With the introduction of new techniques in diagnostic and interventional radiology and progress in micro neurosurgery, accurate knowledge of the brain blood vessels is essential in daily clinical work. The aim of this study was to describe the anatomical characteristics of the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries and to emphasize their clinical significance. In this study we examined radiographs of 103 patients who had CT angiography at the University Clinic for Radiology in Skopje, R. Macedonia. This study included 45 females and 58 males, age range from 25 to 82 years; mean age 58.4±13.2 years. The outer diameter of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery at its origin on the left side was in the range between 0.46 - 2.80 mm, mean 1.24 ± 0.42 mm. The outer diameter of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery on the right side was in the range between 0.54 - 2.50 mm, mean 1.18 ± 0.40 mm. Thorough knowledge of the anatomy and variations of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery is important for clinicians as well as for basic scientists who deal with problems related to intracranial vasculature on daily basis for safe performance of diagnostic and interventional procedures.