MRA results what does it mean??

[madonna33]

What does this mean?  It is the results of my MRA done on the Circle of Willis.  Thank you
"Some decreased signal is identified within the distal portion of the right A1 segment, which is suggestive of a hypoplastic right A1 segment.
There is a congenital variant persistent posterior circulation on the right.  There is some shine through artifact identified from the posterior pituitary."

thanks so much!
joanne

[madonna33]

Thanks for your reply.  It is very appreciated.
I do have a smoking history.......although I have stopped.
I smoked for 16 years....I am now 38

Thank you for your reply!
joanne

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Blood vessels of the brain shown in anatomy textbooks follow a nice symmetric pattern, connecting in a way that forms kind of a circle in the middle (Circle of Willis).  However, in real life (or death really) - autopsy studies show that only about 25% of people really have blood vessels that look like what's in the textbooks.  Your MRI shows that your blood vessels just connect in a different manner and it's just the way you were born and works for you. It's likely not to be clinically significant, unless you had significant stroke risk factors (heart disease, diabetes, cholesterol, smoking history, etc...) and had clogged arteries throughout your neck and brain. Otherwise, it's just a normal variant. Hope that helps.