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Anatomical variations of the circle of Willis in children

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Abstract

Background

The morphology of the circle of Willis in adults has been thoroughly discussed in scientific literature. However, the morphology of the circle of Willis in pediatric patients is under-researched.

Objectives

We aimed to establish reference data for the morphology and variations of the circle of Willis in a population consisting of all pediatric age subgroups and to evaluate the possible temporal evolution of the circle of Willis in pediatric patients along with the variations between pediatric and adult populations.

Materials and methods

Our patient cohort included 263 pediatric patients ages 1–215 months. A total of 273 magnetic resonance (MR) angiography images were retrospectively analyzed for all circle of Willis vessels to compare the incidence of complete cases and variation frequency based on gender and age group.

Result

In our study of 273 MR angiograms from all age ranges in the pediatric population, we found a 56.1% circle of Willis completion rate. Overall completion rates were statistically significantly higher in the toddler and preschool age groups. The lowest completion rate was in the newborn-infant group (40%).

Conclusion

Circle of Willis completion rates and variations in pediatric populations are similar to those in adult populations; completion rates rise in toddler and preschooler age groups and decline as children grow into the school-age and adolescent period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Trakya University School of Medicine, 22030, Edirne, Turkey

    Serdar Solak, Fethi Emre Ustabasioglu, Aykut Alkan, Osman Kula & Nermin Tuncbilek

  2. Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Trakya University School of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey

    Necdet Sut

Authors
  1. Serdar Solak
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  2. Fethi Emre Ustabasioglu
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  3. Aykut Alkan
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  4. Osman Kula
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  5. Necdet Sut
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  6. Nermin Tuncbilek
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Correspondence to Serdar Solak.

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Solak, S., Ustabasioglu, F.E., Alkan, A. et al. Anatomical variations of the circle of Willis in children. Pediatr Radiol 51, 2581–2587 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-021-05167-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-021-05167-9

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