(1) Background: The normal A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) has a supraoptic course. The proximal infraoptic course of an A1 segment leaving the internal carotid artery (ICA) near the origin of the ophthalmic artery is a rare possibility. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and detailed anatomy of infraoptic A1 segments. (2) Methods: We retrospectively studied 145 computed tomography angiograms from 92 male and 53 female cases, with ages varying from 61 to 78 y.o. (3) Results: In 21/145 cases, infraoptic or infrachiasmatic horizontal-medial courses of A1 segments that emerged distally from the ICA were found. Distal infraoptic A1 segments were bilateral in 16/145 cases and unilateral in 3/145 cases. Infrachiasmatic A1 segments were found bilaterally in 2/145 male cases. All the infraoptic/infrachiasmatic A1 segments left long ICAs with low bifurcations. In 7/34 sides with distal infraoptic or infrachiasmatic A1 segments, supracarotid courses were present. In one female, the right A1 segment had an anterior supraclinoid, supracarotid and infraoptic course. In two female cases with a bilateral distal infraoptic A1, the segment was almost contacting the respective posterior cerebral artery. (4) Conclusions: In cases with dolicho(ectatic) ICAs, the A1 segments could have infraoptic and supracarotid courses the neurosurgeons should be aware of.
Background: Fenestrations, such as those of the vertebral artery (VA), are generally regarded as arterial slits. To the authors' knowledge, large fenestrations of the VA were reported twice previously, those morphological patterns being different. We hereby report a third pattern of such large fenestration of the VA. Methods: It was found serendipitously on the computed tomography angiograms of a 63 year-old male which were documented retrospectively. Results: The findings were as follows:1.the right VA entered the posterior fossa, crossed to the left side and joined the opposite VA to form the basilar artery;2.the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery was absent;3.the left VA entered the posterior fossa then it had a huge fenestration with 2 limbs: an anterior one, appearing as the main trunk of the VA coursing to form the BA, and a posterior, coiled one, inserted at both ends into the VA;4.that posterior limb of the left VA fenestration sent off 2 posterior inferior cerebellar branches;5.a slit-like fenestration of the basilar artery was also found. Conclusions: Large fenestrations of the VA could result if, during embryogenesis, the proximal segment of the lateral basivertebral anastomosis and the distal segment of the proatlantal artery persist. Large fenestrations of the VA bring into a narrow neurosurgical field an additional arterial trunk that should be carefully documented preoperatively in order to avoid hemorrhagic events.
(1) Background: For good surgical performance, sound knowledge of anatomy is required. Although the ethmoid air cells and sphenoid sinuses are subject to a high degree of variation, their possible extensions above the nasal fossa at the posterior end of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone (CPEB) were seemingly overlooked. (2) Methods: We retrospectively studied 162 case files from 55 male and 107 female cases, with ages varying from 42 to 80, which were scanned using Cone Beam Computed Tomography. (3) Results: In 56.17% of cases, an unpneumatized CPEB (type I) was found. Nasal roof recesses of ethmoidal origin (type II) were found at the posterior end of the CPEB in 20.37% of cases. Different types of sphenoidal pneumatizations of the posterior end of the CPEB (type III) were found in 22.83% of the cases. Onodi cells projected nasal roof recesses (type IV) in only 10 cases. In all types, nasal roof recesses were found either above the CPEB or within/underneath it. Moreover, such nasal roof recesses were found to be either unilateral, extended contralaterally, or bilateral. (4) Conclusions: As such recesses of the posterior CPEB, previously overlooked, belong to the posterior rhinobase, they should be carefully documented preoperatively to avoid unwanted surgical damage to the olfactory bulb or CSF fistula.
(1) Background: The anterior cerebral artery (ACA) has a precommunicating A1 segment, followed by a postcommunicating A2 segment. Anatomically, after it sends off from the callosomarginal artery (CMA), it continues as the pericallosal artery (PCalA). A detailed pattern of the anatomical variations of the PCalA are needed for practical reasons. (2) Methods: There were 45 retrospectively documented Computed Tomography Angiograms of 32 males and 13 females. (3) Results: In 90 sides, eleven different types of PCalA were documented: type 1: normal origin, above the genu of the corpus callosum (CC) (51.11%); type 2: low origin, below the rostrum of the CC (8.88%); type 3: late origin, above the body of the CC (3.33%); type 4, initial transcallosal course (3.33%); type 5, duplicated PCalA (1.11%); type 6, azygos PCalA (2.22%); type 7, absent PCalA (CMA type of ACA) (7.78%); type 8: CMA continued as PCalA (5.56%); type 9: PCalA continued as the cingular branch (1.11%); type 10: PCalA type of ACA, absent CMA (14.44%); type 11: triple PCalA, with an added median artery of the CC (1.11%). Different types of CMA were also documented: type 0, absent CMA (17.78%); type 1, CMA with frontoparietal distribution (45.56%); type 2, CMA with parietal distribution (22.22%); type 3, low origin of CMA, either from A1, or from A2 (8.88%); type 4, CMA continued as PCalA (5.56%). Ipsilateral combinations of PCalA and CMA types were classified as types A-P. In 33/45 cases (73.3%), the bilateral asymmetry of the combined anatomical patterns of PCalA and CMA was documented. Additional rare variations were found: (a) huge fenestration of A2; (b) bihemispheric ACAs (6/45 cases); (c) twisted arteries within the interhemispheric fissure. (4) Conclusions: The PCalA and CMA are anatomically diverse and unpredictable. Therefore, they should be documented on a case-by-case basis before surgical or endovascular approaches.
(1) Background: The inferior anastomotic vein of Labbé (LV) courses on the temporal lobe, from the sylvian fissure towards the tentorium cerebelli and finishes at the transverse sinus (TS). The importance of the LV topography is related to skull base neurosurgical approaches. Based on the hypothesis of the existence of as yet unidentified anatomical possibilities of the LV, we aimed through this research to document the superficial venous topographic patterns at the lateral and inferior surfaces of the temporal lobe. (2) Methods: A retrospective cohort of 50 computed tomography angiograms (CTAs) of 32 males and 18 females was documented. (3) Results: Absent (type 0) LVs were found in 6% of cases. Anterior (temporal, squamosal–petrosal–mastoid, type 1) LVs were found in 12% of cases. LVs with a posterior, temporoparietal course (type 2) were found to be bilateral in 46% of cases and unilateral in 36% of cases. Type 3 LVs (posterior, parietooccipital) were found to be bilateral in 8% and unilateral in 32% of cases. In 24% of cases, duplicate LVs were found that were either complete or incomplete. A quadruplicate LV was found in a male case. On 78 sides, the LV drained either into a tentorial sinus or into the TS. (4) Conclusions: The anatomy of the vein of Labbé is variable in terms of its course, the number of veins and the modality of drainage; thus, it should determine personalized neurosurgical and interventional approaches. A new classification of the anatomical variations of Labbé’s vein, as detected on the CTAs, is proposed here (types 0–3).
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