Abstract: Introduction: pathological tortuosity of internal carotid arteries (ICA) is widespread; its frequency in population varies within 18-34%. Currently, there are several approaches for the determination of indications for surgical intervention in pathological ICA tortuosity. The main criteria are hemodynamic changes in the arterial flow and the presence of neurological symptoms, so an informative preoperative examination is an integral part in treatment strategy determination in patients' subsequent treatment. Aim: was to estimate the condition of carotid arteries and substance of the brain in isolated pathological tortuosity and in combination with stenotic lesions, based on results of CT angiography. Materials and methods: we analyzed results of examination and treatment of 70 patients. Ultrasound and CT angiography of brachiocephalic arteries were performed on a Philips iCT 256-slice multislice computed tomograph. During CT angiography, a non-contrast study, arterial and venous phases of contrast enhancement were performed with an intravenous bolus injection of 50.0 ml of isoosmolar iodinated contrast-agent at 4-5 ml/sec. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with isolated pathological carotid tortuosity (28 pts) and patients with a combination of carotid tortuosity and stenotic lesions (42 pts). We assessed the effect of carotid tortuosity on the severity of the brain tissue alterations using statistical analysis. Results: a lesser severity of changes in the substance of the brain was noted in patients in the group with isolated pathological tortuosity of ICA. In 9 cases, we did not detect focal lesions; in 15 cases, small foci of microangiopathy and individual cerebrospinal fluid cysts were noted, in 4 patients, we noted areas and zones of cystic-glial changes. S- and C-shaped deformation became the most frequent variants of tortuosity; the formation of 3 saccular aneurysms (two true and one false) was revealed. Manifestations of ischemic damage of the brain substance in the group of patients with a combination of ICA tortuosity and stenotic lesion were more pronounced. Thus, in 11 cases, zones and areas of cystic-glial changes were determined within the framework of past cerebrovascular accidents; in 20 patients, foci of microangiopathy expressed in varying degrees, as well as individual cerebrospinal fluid cysts, were noted. In 11 cases, no focal lesions were detected in the brain. Statistical processing showed a correlation between the condition of carotid arteries and the presence of focal brain damage - in the group with combination of pathological tortuosity and stenosis of ICA, more pronounced chronic ischemic brain damage was detected (p=0,012). Conclusion: CT-angiography was noted to be highly informative in assessment of condition of carotid arteries and brain substance in patients with isolated pathological tortuosity, as well as in combination with a stenotic lesion of internal carotid arteries. With a combination of pathological tortuosity and a stenosis in internal carotid arteries, data were obtained on a more pronounced damage of the brain substance. According to computed tomography, clinical manifestations of chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency were generally more pronounced compared to changes in the brain substance. However, there was a correlation between the increase in the degree of chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency and the aggravation of the state of the brain substance.
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