Chapter 6 – Cerebral Vasa Vasorum: Second Edition

Vasa vasorum (VV) are defined literally as vessels of the vessels, and predominantly observed in large vessels with an important role under pathological conditions. VV in the human body play an important role in pathophysiology of diseases, and noncerebral VV have been investigated for over a century. Intracranial vessels were misrepresented to be devoid of VV, and increasing evidence of their existence widens the research field investigating intra- and extracranial cerebral VV. Intracranial VV have not been observed in children, as they predominantly occur in proximal cerebral arteries of the elderly and patients with cerebrovascular disease. Several cases of intramural hemorrhage, aneurysm, arterial dissection, and vasculitis presented an association with cerebral VV. Improving technology and modern radiological methods constantly reveal new aspects of cerebral VV for further elucidation of their importance in disease diagnosis and prognosis, and as potential treatment targets.