Anatomical variation in the branching pattern of the aortic arch: a literature review

Murray, Anna; Meguid, Eiman Abdel

doi:10.1007/s11845-022-03196-3

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The common carotid arteries are paired vessels that, along with the other paired vessels -vertebral arteries -constitute the main source of arterial blood supply to the head and neck. The left common carotid artery typically originates most commonly by branching off from the highest point of the aortic arch; however, rarer anatomical variations exist, such as arising from a common trunk with the right carotid artery or the right subclavian artery [1]. The right common carotid artery usually begins by branching off from the brachiocephalic trunk, but similar to the left side, other variants occur, such as direct origin from the aortic arch when the brachiocephalic trunk fails to develop [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical implications of variations of common carotid artery trifurcation

Biskupski,

Homzar,

Dąbrowska

et al. 2024

J Pre Clin Clin Res.

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Introduction and Objective. Common carotid arteries are paired vessels supplying the head and neck, and in surgical practice their trifurcation can impact the effectiveness of various oncologic, reconstructive, and interventional procedures. Understanding anatomical variations is crucial for avoiding complications and improving procedural safety. The aim of the study was to review the literature and systematize knowledge regarding the anatomy of the common carotid a. trifurcation, with particular emphasis on its role in procedures such as carotid a. stenting, carotid endarterectomy, tumour embolization, glossectomy, thyroidectomy, and lymph node resection. Review Methods. A literature review (including 9 original studies and 11 case reports) was conducted, considering studies on the anatomy of the common carotid a. trifurcation based on cadaveric and radiological material. Various variants of the common carotid a. trifurcation were identified, and their frequency of occurrence documented in the study. Brief description of the state of knowledge. Based on the analyzed literature, the most frequently observed third branch of the division was the superior thyroid a. (20-76.6%). Other isolated cases included the superior laryngeal a., ascending pharyngeal a., occipital a., and lingual a. Conclusions. Analyzing the diversity of the common carotid a. trifurcation reveals its frequent occurrence, suggesting the necessity to consider this variability in head and neck medical procedures. The most common third branch is the superior thyroid a., which holds significant importance for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the area of the thyroid gland. While cases of large vessels, such as the vertebral a., departing from the trifurcation are rare, their consideration is crucial in procedural planning.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical implications of variations of common carotid artery trifurcation

Biskupski,

Homzar,

Dąbrowska

et al. 2024

J Pre Clin Clin Res.

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“…Many of these variations are clinically significant in terms of involvement by disease process or as an interface in the management of disease which needs to be carefully dealt with. A pre-existing knowledge of these variations helps in better treatment planning and thus minimizing the risk of complications and treatment failures [2][3][4]. In this imaging case series, clinically important variations in aortic branches such as high riding right brachiocephalic artery (BCA), aberrant right subclavian artery, and common celiacomesenteric trunk are being discussed with imaging illustrations and a review of the literature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Important Variations of Aortic Branches: Imaging Case Series

Singh

2024

Cureus

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Various anatomical variations are known to occur in branches of the aorta. Some of these variations are common while others are quite uncommon. However, these variations carry significant implications when the patient is diseased and some intervention or surgical procedure is to be done. Most of these variations are usually incidentally detected. This imaging case series illustrates some clinically important variations of aortic branches including branches of the aortic arch and abdominal aorta, with a review of the literature. All cases illustrated here were detected incidentally.

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“…The most common branching variation of the left AA is the bovine aortic arch (BAA), with a prevalence ranging from 7% to 25% [10][11][12][13]. In turn, this anatomical anomaly has two branching patterns: the Type I bovine aortic arch (T1BA) in which the BT and LCCA share a common origin at the AA (Figure 2), and the Type II bovine aortic arch (T2BA) in which the LCCA originates directly from the BT (Figure 3) [14]. The difference between T1BA and T2BA prevalence may be the result of complex processes of embryological development and gene expression that determine the organization and formation of the aortic arch during intrauterine life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical–Surgical Implications of Branching Variation of Human Aortic Arch Known as Bovine Aortic Arch (BAA)

Rotundu,

Nedelcu,

Tepordei

et al. 2024

JPM

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(1) Background: The aortic arch (AA) branching model is challenging, considering the multiple anatomical variations documented in existing research. The bovine aortic arch (BAA) is the most prevalent anatomical variation among these. This variant of AA branching has long been considered a nonsymptomatic malformation, having been discovered incidentally during imaging investigations for other causes. However, more recent studies have demonstrated that BAA shows a frequent association with coarctation of the aorta (CoA), thoracic aortic disease (TAD), and stroke. At the same time, given the current context of increasing activity in the fields of interventional and surgical procedures in the aorta and its branches, it is very important to know the medical–surgical implications of this anatomical variant. (2) Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review using PubMed and Embase, focusing specifically on randomized trials and cohort analyses that examined the medical–surgical implications of BAA. We assessed information related to studied groups, medical procedures, and study outcomes. Initially, we identified 8454 studies, and after rigorous evaluation, we narrowed down our review to 25 articles. (3) Discussions: The intervention consisted of assessing the risks associated with BAA through different imaging investigation methods such as computer tomographic angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasonography (US). The following results were evaluated: the prevalence of the BAA, the importance of imaging investigations in establishing the diagnosis and the therapeutic management and monitoring the evolution of patients with the BAA, the association of the BAA with CoA, TAD, and stroke, and the potential risks of interventional treatment in patients with the BAA. (4) Conclusions: The prevalence of the BAA differs both between different ethnic groups and between genders. Advanced imaging methods such as CTA and 4D flow MRI allow detailed descriptions of supra-aortic vascular anatomy and information about blood flow velocities, direction, and turbulence in the AA. US remains an easy and valuable imaging investigation, with the potential to detect and correctly diagnose the BAA and its hemodynamic implications. Anatomical variations in the AA are associated with increased rates of TAD, CoA, and stroke, necessitating early diagnosis and increased supervision of patients with such incidentally observed abnormalities. In addition, there is a need to further develop and refine the surgical techniques used and personalize them to the individual characteristics of patients with the BAA.

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Anatomical variation in the branching pattern of the aortic arch: a literature review

Cited by 7 publications

References 35 publications

Clinical implications of variations of common carotid artery trifurcation

Clinical implications of variations of common carotid artery trifurcation

Important Variations of Aortic Branches: Imaging Case Series

Medical–Surgical Implications of Branching Variation of Human Aortic Arch Known as Bovine Aortic Arch (BAA)

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