Anomalous vertebral artery origins: the first and second reports of two variants

J Neurointerv Surg. 2010 Jun;2(2):160-2. doi: 10.1136/jnis.2009.001271.

Abstract

We present two cases of aberrant origins of vertebral arteries. Case 1 is of a patient undergoing evaluation of an infrarenal aortic aneurysm stent graft. Computed tomography (CT) angiogram revealed an aberrant right vertebral artery that subsequently joined a second right vertebral artery that had the typical origin off the right subclavian artery. This represents an unusual anatomic variation not previously reported in the literature. Case 2 is of a patient being evaluated for thoracic aorta injury. CT angiogram of the chest revealed a five-vessel aortic arch with aberrant origin of the bilateral vertebral arteries distal to the left subclavian artery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Radiography
  • Subclavian Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Vertebral Artery / abnormalities*
  • Vertebral Artery / diagnostic imaging*