Infraoptic anterior cerebral artery or carotid-anterior cerebral artery anastomosis: A very rare embryological variation. Case series and review of literature. 2021

Puneet S Kochar, and Priti Soin, and Kareem Elfatairy
Department of Radiology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17043, USA. Electronic address: drkochar.puneet@gmail.com.

OBJECTIVE An infraoptic course of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) is a rare cerebrovascular variation that can be associated with anterior communicating artery aneurysm. The purpose of this study is: 1. Describe infraoptic ACA or Carotid-ACA anastomosis. 2. Discuss the embryology. 3. Demonstrate this rare variation on CT/MR angiography. 4. Discuss its clinical significance. 5. Understand the anatomy for appropriate management of associated vascular pathology (Anterior communicating aneurysm). 6. METHODS METHODS We describe 2 cases with CT/MR angiographic findings of this rare vascular variation along with review of embryology and literature. CONCLUSIONS Generally, ACA arises from the internal carotid artery (ICA) terminus and runs medially superior to the optic nerves and communicates with contralateral ACA through the anterior communicating artery. An infraoptic course of the A1 segment of the ACA is associated with a low ICA bifurcation, usually located intradurally at or just above the level of the origin of the ophthalmic artery. Rarely, infraoptic origins of A1 are proximal or at the level of origin of the ophthalmic arteries and arise below the optic strut possibly extradurally. Abberant ACA course has been shown to be associated with aneurysms which needs prompt recognition, to allow optimum treatment planning (surgical/endovascular). Our first case has bilateral infraoptic ACA seen on CT angiography. The second case has ipsilateral (right) infraoptic ACA with associated anterior communicating artery aneurysm.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009880 Ophthalmic Artery Artery originating from the internal carotid artery and distributing to the eye, orbit and adjacent facial structures. Arteries, Ophthalmic,Artery, Ophthalmic,Ophthalmic Arteries
D002343 Carotid Artery, Internal Branch of the common carotid artery which supplies the anterior part of the brain, the eye and its appendages, the forehead and nose. Arteries, Internal Carotid,Artery, Internal Carotid,Carotid Arteries, Internal,Internal Carotid Arteries,Internal Carotid Artery
D002532 Intracranial Aneurysm Abnormal outpouching in the wall of intracranial blood vessels. Most common are the saccular (berry) aneurysms located at branch points in CIRCLE OF WILLIS at the base of the brain. Vessel rupture results in SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE or INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGES. Giant aneurysms (>2.5 cm in diameter) may compress adjacent structures, including the OCULOMOTOR NERVE. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p841) Aneurysm, Cerebral,Aneurysm, Intracranial,Basilar Artery Aneurysm,Berry Aneurysm,Brain Aneurysm,Cerebral Aneurysm,Giant Intracranial Aneurysm,Mycotic Aneurysm, Intracranial,Aneurysm, Anterior Cerebral Artery,Aneurysm, Anterior Communicating Artery,Aneurysm, Basilar Artery,Aneurysm, Middle Cerebral Artery,Aneurysm, Posterior Cerebral Artery,Aneurysm, Posterior Communicating Artery,Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm,Anterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm,Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm,Posterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm,Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysm,Aneurysm, Berry,Aneurysm, Brain,Aneurysm, Giant Intracranial,Aneurysm, Intracranial Mycotic,Aneurysms, Basilar Artery,Aneurysms, Berry,Aneurysms, Brain,Aneurysms, Cerebral,Aneurysms, Giant Intracranial,Aneurysms, Intracranial,Aneurysms, Intracranial Mycotic,Artery Aneurysm, Basilar,Artery Aneurysms, Basilar,Basilar Artery Aneurysms,Berry Aneurysms,Brain Aneurysms,Cerebral Aneurysms,Giant Intracranial Aneurysms,Intracranial Aneurysm, Giant,Intracranial Aneurysms,Intracranial Aneurysms, Giant,Intracranial Mycotic Aneurysm,Intracranial Mycotic Aneurysms,Mycotic Aneurysms, Intracranial
D002533 Cerebral Angiography Radiography of the vascular system of the brain after injection of a contrast medium. Angiography, Cerebral,Angiographies, Cerebral,Cerebral Angiographies
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000714 Anastomosis, Surgical Surgical union or shunt between ducts, tubes or vessels. It may be end-to-end, end-to-side, side-to-end, or side-to-side. Surgical Anastomosis,Anastomoses, Surgical,Surgical Anastomoses
D020771 Anterior Cerebral Artery Artery formed by the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery (CAROTID ARTERY, INTERNAL). Branches of the anterior cerebral artery supply the CAUDATE NUCLEUS; INTERNAL CAPSULE; PUTAMEN; SEPTAL NUCLEI; GYRUS CINGULI; and surfaces of the FRONTAL LOBE and PARIETAL LOBE. Cerebral Artery, Anterior,Anterior Cerebral Arteries,Arteries, Anterior Cerebral,Artery, Anterior Cerebral,Cerebral Arteries, Anterior

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