Research Article

The Influence of Basilar Artery Morphology on the Development of Pontine Infarctions

Volume: 65 Number: 3 September 3, 2026
TR EN

The Influence of Basilar Artery Morphology on the Development of Pontine Infarctions

Abstract

Aim: Variations in the vertebrobasilar arterial system can influence cerebral hemodynamics and predispose to vascular disease. Because the inner ear is supplied by the vertebrobasilar circulation, patients with isolated vertigo may have increased posterior circulation stroke risk. This study compared basilar artery morphology between patients with isolated vertigo and those with pontine infarction. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 80 patients admitted with acute isolated PI and 59 controls presenting with isolated vertigo between September 2019 and August 2023. Demographics, vascular risk factors, neuroimaging features, and etiologies were reviewed. BA configuration, basilar artery length, basilar artery bending distance, vertebral artery dominance, and bulbar contact were assessed. Results: Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, prior posterior circulation stroke, and smoking were significantly more prevalent in the PI group (p<0.05). The C-shaped BA configuration was the most common in both groups and was not associated with PI. Neither BAL nor BABD correlated significantly with PI. In contrast, VA bulbar contact was markedly more frequent in the PI group (p<0.001). The dominant VA tended to displace the BA laterally toward the contralateral side. Conclusions: Most PIs appear related to small vessel disease. Although BA morphological alterations are detectable in PI, similar changes are also common in isolated vertigo, indicating that BA variants are not specific to infarction. Larger, population-based studies are needed to clarify the contributions of genetic, racial, and other factors to BA morphology and its clinical relevance.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

no funding organization

Ethical Statement

The article has been prepared in accordance with scientific and ethical principles, and the studies used are listed in the references section.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Sciences (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 3, 2026

Submission Date

January 21, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 8, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 65 Number: 3

APA
Tanrıverdi, Z., Yılmaz Kalkan, S., Akbulut, N., Beckmann, Y., & Gelal, F. (2026). The Influence of Basilar Artery Morphology on the Development of Pontine Infarctions. Ege Tıp Dergisi, 65(3), 394-402. https://doi.org/10.19161/etd.1867158
AMA
1.Tanrıverdi Z, Yılmaz Kalkan S, Akbulut N, Beckmann Y, Gelal F. The Influence of Basilar Artery Morphology on the Development of Pontine Infarctions. EJM. 2026;65(3):394-402. doi:10.19161/etd.1867158
Chicago
Tanrıverdi, Zeynep, Sıla Yılmaz Kalkan, Nurcan Akbulut, Yeşim Beckmann, and Fazıl Gelal. 2026. “The Influence of Basilar Artery Morphology on the Development of Pontine Infarctions”. Ege Tıp Dergisi 65 (3): 394-402. https://doi.org/10.19161/etd.1867158.
EndNote
Tanrıverdi Z, Yılmaz Kalkan S, Akbulut N, Beckmann Y, Gelal F (September 1, 2026) The Influence of Basilar Artery Morphology on the Development of Pontine Infarctions. Ege Tıp Dergisi 65 3 394–402.
IEEE
[1]Z. Tanrıverdi, S. Yılmaz Kalkan, N. Akbulut, Y. Beckmann, and F. Gelal, “The Influence of Basilar Artery Morphology on the Development of Pontine Infarctions”, EJM, vol. 65, no. 3, pp. 394–402, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.19161/etd.1867158.
ISNAD
Tanrıverdi, Zeynep - Yılmaz Kalkan, Sıla - Akbulut, Nurcan - Beckmann, Yeşim - Gelal, Fazıl. “The Influence of Basilar Artery Morphology on the Development of Pontine Infarctions”. Ege Tıp Dergisi 65/3 (September 1, 2026): 394-402. https://doi.org/10.19161/etd.1867158.
JAMA
1.Tanrıverdi Z, Yılmaz Kalkan S, Akbulut N, Beckmann Y, Gelal F. The Influence of Basilar Artery Morphology on the Development of Pontine Infarctions. EJM. 2026;65:394–402.
MLA
Tanrıverdi, Zeynep, et al. “The Influence of Basilar Artery Morphology on the Development of Pontine Infarctions”. Ege Tıp Dergisi, vol. 65, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 394-02, doi:10.19161/etd.1867158.
Vancouver
1.Zeynep Tanrıverdi, Sıla Yılmaz Kalkan, Nurcan Akbulut, Yeşim Beckmann, Fazıl Gelal. The Influence of Basilar Artery Morphology on the Development of Pontine Infarctions. EJM. 2026 Sep. 1;65(3):394-402. doi:10.19161/etd.1867158

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