Isolated origin of the left internal carotid artery from the pulmonary artery

J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2008 Sep;2(3):207-11. doi: 10.3171/PED/2008/2/9/207.

Abstract

The authors describe what is, to their knowledge, the first reported case of the anomalous origin of an internal carotid artery from the pulmonary artery. An otherwise asymptomatic 6-year-old girl, who presented with headaches and hypertension, underwent a comprehensive workup that revealed extensive meningeal and cerebral artery anastomoses to the left internal carotid artery--itself arising from the origin of the left pulmonary artery. This unique anatomical anomaly, caused by a disturbed pattern of aortic arch regression, resulted in a right-to-left vascular shunt into the pulmonary artery and a disturbance of intracranial artery flow patterns, complicating the management options.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aorta, Thoracic / abnormalities
  • Aorta, Thoracic / surgery
  • Aortography
  • Brain / blood supply
  • Brain / pathology
  • Carotid Artery, Internal / abnormalities*
  • Carotid Artery, Internal / diagnostic imaging
  • Carotid Artery, Internal / surgery
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology
  • Child
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Artery / surgery
  • Subclavian Artery / abnormalities
  • Subclavian Artery / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures / methods