Comparison of histological and angiographic measurements of the basilar artery in the experimental rabbit subarachnoid bleeding model

AIM Previous studies clearly demonstrated that the lumen diameter and vessel wall thickness and area were all correlated with the degree of vasospasm. Cerebral arterial measurements by digital subtraction angiography are limited to the inner diameter of the vessels; however, the outer layer of the arterial diameter, lumen area, and vessel wall thickness can be still be measured with histological analysis. In the present study, histological and angiographic measurements of the basilar artery were compared in the experimental rabbit subarachnoid bleeding model. MATERIAL AND METHODS The basilar artery was measured with both histopathological and angiographic methods in experimental SAH and vasospasm rabbit models. New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into two groups: control and SAH. The SAH group rabbits were operated to create an experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage. Both groups were examined angiographically and histologically Results: When comparing the two methods, angiographic and histopathological measurements were similar for the control group. However, when the SAH group measurements were compared, the difference between the angiographic and histopathological methods was significant. Histopathological measurements of the basilar artery were lower than angiographic measurements, and with the difference that reached statistical significance. In angiographic examination, although marked decrease in basilar artery measurements were demonstrated in the SAH group, measurement differences between the two groups did not reach statistical significance. However, in histopathological examination, measurement differences between the control and SAH groups were statistically significant. CONCLUSION Histopathological measurements were shown to be more sensitive than angiographic methods in demonstrating cerebral vasopasm in experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage rabit models.