Vertebrobasilar Junction Angle Over 90°: A Potential Imaging Marker Associated With Vertebrobasilar Atherosclerosis

Whether the cerebral vascular variations play an important role in the progression of intracranial atherosclerosis is yet largely unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the magnitude of the vertebrobasilar junction (VBJ) angle and the imaging features of vertebrobasilar artery atherosclerosis. Adult patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack undergoing a 3.0-tesla vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI) scanning were consecutively included. Imaging features of vertebrobasilar artery atherosclerosis were assessed on the reconstructed short axis of VW-MRI at the most stenotic site. The VBJ angle degree was measured on magnetic resonance angiography and classified into the angle ≥90° or