Duplication of the vertebral artery: A series of four cases

Interv Neuroradiol. 2018 Dec;24(6):596-600. doi: 10.1177/1591019918783973. Epub 2018 Jul 3.

Abstract

Introduction: Duplication of the vertebral artery (VA) is a rare vascular variant, with less than 50 reported cases in the literature.

Case series: We present four cases of VA duplication and discuss the imaging findings, which highlight the rarely seen VA duplication.

Discussion: VA duplication is generally considered to be an incidental finding. The VA is formed from the fusion of the longitudinal anastomoses that link the cervical intersegmental arteries, during the 32-40-day stage. The duplication of the VA is a clinically relevant finding for planning of head and neck surgery and neuro-interventional procedures.

Keywords: Vertebral artery; dual origin; duplication.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Angiography
  • Carotid Artery, Internal / abnormalities
  • Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection / etiology
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Subclavian Artery / abnormalities
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vertebral Artery / abnormalities*
  • Vertebral Artery / diagnostic imaging