Anatomic Considerations and Relationship between Vertebral Artery and Transverse Foramina at Cervical Vertebrae 1 to 6 in Vertigo Patients

Abstract

Objectives: In the present study, we investigated the relationship between vertebral artery and transverse foramina of the C1 to C6 vertebrae in patients with vertigo suspected as vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI).

Patients and Methods: In this retrospective study, Cervical Computed Tomography (CT) of 22 adult patients with vertigo and control group comprising 23 healthy adulti ndivıduals were included. Vertebral artery and transverse foramina measurements (Sagittal and transverse dimensions; and area) were performed at the levels of cervical 1 (C1) to cervical 6 (C6) vertebrae bilaterally.

Results: At C6 level, right vertebral artery area; and sagittal and transverse diameter; and atthe C1 level, right transverse foramina area of the vertigo group were significantly higher than the control group. Vertebral artery area values were positively correlated with ipsilateral transverse foramina values (transverse foramen sagittal and transverse dimensions; and areas) at C1 to C5 levels. When transverse foramina sagittal or transverse dimensions; or transverse foramina areas decreased, vertebral artery areas also decreased at C1 to C5 levels.

Conclusion: We concluded that a decrease in the diameters of bony structure or transverse foramina may cause a decreasein the area of the vertebral artery at the ipsilateral side.As the left vertebral artery is dominant for cerebral blood flow, an increase of the right vertebral artery area cannot affect cerebral blood flow. Decreased blood flow on the left side may play a role in the development of vertigo, in other words,VBI.

Keywords

• Vertebral artery,transverse foramina,vertigo,vertebrobasilar insufficiency,multi-slice computed tomography

References

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