to demonstrate abnormally developed perforating arteries in pathological states on magnet resonance angiography (MRA) to understand normal distributions of perforating arteries comparing with abnormally developed ones to review vascular diseases related with perforating arteries

Normal perforating arteries are difficult to be clearly visualized on MRA. However, in the pathological states including moyamoya disease, arteriovenous shunting, and tumors, they often develop to abnormally large. In such cases, distributions of perforating arteries are well demonstrated on MRA.

============================================== Anatomy of perforating arteries ============================================== The basal perforating arteries are divided into three groups. the striate arterial group arising from ACA and MCA the thalamic arterial group the AChA and ICA branches 1.supply the basal ganglia. MSA: medial striate arteries LSA: lateral striate arteries 2.supply thediencephalon. TTA: thalamotuberal arteries TPA: thalamoperforate arteries TGA: thalamogeniculate arteries PChA: medial posterior choroidal arteries PChA: lateral posterior choroidal arteries 3.supply the area between 1 and 2. ICA: perforating arteries arising from internal carotid artery AChA: anterior choroidal artery...

Perforating arteries in a certain pathological state are easily evaluated on MRA. MRA also visualize abnormally developed anastomoses between perforating arteries and other arteries, which indicate boundaries of their supply. Knowledge of their distributions and boundaries of perforating arteries is useful to understand normal anatomy and pathogenesis of cerebral vascular diseases in these areas.

Takahashi S, Goto K, Fukasawa H, et al. Computed tomography of cerebral infarction along the distribution of the basal perforating arteries. Part I: Striate arterial group. Radiology. 1985;155(1):107–118.2. Takahashi S, Goto K, Fukasawa H, et al. Computed tomography of cerebral infarction along the distribution of the basal perforating arteries. Part II: Thalamic arterial group. Radiology. 1985;155(1):119–130.