Radiologic visualization of neck vessels in healthy men

Abstract

A group of 43 healthy male prisoners were subjected to transbrachial percutaneous arteriography in order to visualize both vertebral and carotid arteries in the neck. Some kind of arterial lesion was demonstrated in 23 men (53.6%). In 10 men (23.2%), more than 1 artery was affected. The abnormalities consisted of atherosclerotic plaques, complete arterial occlusions, arterial kinks, partial obstruction by arthritic spurs, extra-arterial fascial bands, or total absence of a vessel. Atherosclerotic plaques accounted for about half of the lesions demonstrated. The percentage of normals was practically identical in the fifth-decade and sixth-decade groups, whereas the percentage of atherosclerotic lesions was slightly higher in the younger group. The vessel most commonly involved was the right vertebral artery, then the right carotid, left vertebral, and left carotid. Atherosclerotic lesions were seen more often in the carotid arteries; other types of lesions more often affected the vertebral arteries. Comparison of the group of 43 healthy men between 40 and 65 with a group of 68 male patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency in the same age group revealed only slight differences in radiologic abnormalities. As a result of this study, we feel great caution should be used in interpreting the clinical significance of radiologically demonstrated arterial occlusive and obstructive lesions in patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency. Furthermore, the need for surgical removal of such arterial lesions must also be carefully determined.