Journal List > J Korean Soc Magn Reson Med > v.17(1) > 1011904

Jeon, Chang, Kim, and Cho: Persistent Proatlantal Artery in Magnetic Resonance Angiography: A Case Report

Abstract

Persistent proatlantal artery (PPA) is a rare embryologically remnant carotico-vertebrobasilar anastomoses. There are two types of PPA according to embryological considerations, origin and anatomic course. Type I PPA usually originate from internal carotid artery and not traversing transverse foramen. Type II PPA traverses from external carotid artery to C1 transverse foramen. The PPA is usually found incidentally without clinical symptoms, but can be related to several clinically significant vascular lesions, such as hypoplastic vertebral artery, intracranial arteriovenous malformation and in a case of carotid endarterectomy or external carotid artery embolization. So, thorough understanding of this anomaly is needed and we report a case of type II PPA diagnosed by MR angiography.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Contrast-enhanced neck MR angiography. Left oblique view (a) and posterior-anterior view (b) shows Type II proatlantal artery which originate from left proximal ECA (arrow). This artery traverses from left proximal ECA to left vertebral artery ,V3 segment (arrow heads). There is aplasia of left vertebral artery involving V1 and V2 segments.
jksmrm-17-55-g001
Fig. 2
Brain TOF (time-of flight) MR angiography shows about 2 mm sized small aneurysm of the right paraclinoid internal carotid artery (arrow).
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