Bilateral carotid-anterior cerebral artery anastomoses associated with bilateral ophthalmic arteries arising from the middle meningeal arteries diagnosed by magnetic resonance angiography: a case report

Surg Radiol Anat. 2017 Nov;39(11):1289-1292. doi: 10.1007/s00276-017-1864-5. Epub 2017 May 9.

Abstract

Anastomosis between the ophthalmic segment of the internal carotid artery and the A1-A2 junction of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), described as carotid-ACA anastomosis or infraoptic course of the ACA, is rare and known to demonstrate right-sided predominance. We report a case of bilateral carotid-ACA anastomoses associated with bilateral ophthalmic arteries arising from the sphenoidal branch of the middle meningeal artery that were diagnosed by magnetic resonance (MR) angiography. Identification of rare arterial variations on MR angiography requires careful scrutiny of source images.

Keywords: Anterior cerebral artery; Cerebral arterial variation; Magnetic resonance angiography; Middle meningeal artery; Ophthalmic artery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anatomic Variation
  • Anterior Cerebral Artery / anatomy & histology*
  • Anterior Cerebral Artery / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carotid Arteries / anatomy & histology*
  • Carotid Arteries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography*
  • Meningeal Arteries / anatomy & histology*
  • Meningeal Arteries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Middle Aged
  • Ophthalmic Artery / anatomy & histology*
  • Ophthalmic Artery / diagnostic imaging*