The Anatomy of the Superficial Temporal Artery in Adult Koreans Using 3-Dimensional Computed Tomographic Angiogram: Clinical Research

Abstract

ObjectiveThe increased use of bypass surgery in the treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases requires a better understanding of the superficial temporal artery (STA) anatomy. This study is to describe the gross anatomy of STA in adult Korean population with respect to cranial surgery and to provide basic anatomic data for bypass surgery.MethodsThe study evaluated retrospectively 35 patients who visited the neurosurgery department at a single institution. For each patient, both the left and right STA (70 vessels) were evaluated by a 3-dimensional computed tomographic angiogramfor diameter and anatomic relationships to external landmarks.ResultsOf 70 STAs, 69 had a bifurcation. Among these, 57 (82.6%) were above the superior margin of the zygomatic arch. The STA bifurcation was 53.2 ± 5.9 mm posterior to the keyhole, 9.5 ± 5.3 mm anterior to the posterior margin of condylar process of the mandible, and 21.7 ± 15.8 mm superior to the superior margin of the zygomatic arch. The inner diameter of the STA was 1.8 ± 0.5 mm at the superior margin of the zygomatic arch, and 1.4 ± 0.4 mm and 1.4 ± 0.5 mm for frontal and parietal branches, respectively. The 75.7% of frontal and 66.7% of parietal branches were suitable for microvascular anastomosis.ConclusionThis present study demonstrated the STA in Korean adults, which may benefit the clinician in dealing with the surgical procedures related to this STA.

Superficial Temporal Artery-Sparing Mini-Pterional Approach for Cerebral Aneurysm Surgery

“…This result is similar to previous research9). STA sparing was possible in all surgeries and may confer several advantages such as the reduction of subgaleal hematoma and stimulation of wound healing.…”

Superficial temporal artery: the “C” shape half-buttonhole configuration as it courses over the zygomatic arch

“…The presence or absence of the ''C'' shape half-buttonhole should be helpful for pre-operative planning of the anterior-posterior course of the STA. Our series showed a higher rate of STA bifurcations occurring above the zygomatic arch (96 %), compared to 75-90 % seen in the literature [5,9]. We demonstrate here that CTA is a non-invasive imaging technique that provides excellent B bifurcation of STA.…”

“…After this point, the artery typically bifurcates into frontal and parietal branches, but occasionally the STA may either continue as a single vessel to either the frontal or parietal regions or have additional frontal or parietal branches [8]. In approximately 10-25 % of people, the STA bifurcation is located at or below the level of the zygomatic arch [5,9]. A recent 3D-computed tomography angiography (CTA) study of 53 pts showed the STA bifurcation to be more commonly located over the posterior third of the zygomatic arch (58 %), followed by above the zygomatic arch (40 %), and below the zygomatic arch (2 %) [6].…”

Fusiform enlargement of the superficial temporal artery in the cases with intracranial aneurysm

“…The superficial temporal artery is one of the external carotid artery branches mainly feeding the scalp (4,5). The other branches of the external carotid artery are the facial artery, maxillary artery, occipital artery, and the posterior auricular artery.…”

“…Superficial temporal artery is one of the external carotid artery branches which has the duty of scalp feeding (4,5). Facial artery, maxillary artery, occipital artery and posterior auricular artery are other arteries as they feed the scalp (6,7).…”