The so-called “bovine aortic arch”: a possible biomarker for embolic strokes?

To examine the prevalence of the so-called bovine aortic arch variation (common origin of the brachiocephalic trunk and the left common carotid artery) in embolic stroke patients, compared with a control group. Aortic arch branching patterns were retrospectively evaluated in 474 individuals with (n = 152) and without (n = 322) acute embolic stroke of the anterior circulation. Contrast-enhanced CT scans of the chest and neck (arterial contrast...