Anterior spinal and bulbar artery supply to the posterior inferior cerebellar artery revealed by a ruptured aneurysm: case report

J Neurosurg. 2017 Feb;126(2):596-599. doi: 10.3171/2016.1.JNS152099. Epub 2016 Apr 1.

Abstract

The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is a vessel located between the intra- and extracranial circulation. The artery is characterized by a complex embryological development and numerous anatomical variants. The authors present a case of the PICA supplied by both a hypertrophic anterior spinal artery and a hypoplastic bulbar artery. This unusual arrangement somehow completes the list of previously published variants, and the spontaneous rupture of a related aneurysm confirmed the fragility of this network. The authors discuss anatomical and treatment considerations.

Keywords: AICA = anterior inferior cerebellar artery; ASA = anterior spinal artery; DSA = digital subtraction angiography; LSA = lateral spinal artery; PICA = posterior inferior cerebellar artery; Wallenberg syndrome; aneurysm; anterior spinal artery; interventional neurosurgery; lateral spinal artery; posterior inferior cerebellar artery; posterior medullary segment; tonsillomedullary segment; vascular disorders; vasocorona.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aneurysm, Ruptured / complications
  • Aneurysm, Ruptured / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cerebellum / blood supply*
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / complications
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging*
  • Male
  • Spinal Cord / blood supply*
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging*
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Young Adult