Suprasellar displacement of intracavernous internal carotid artery: case report.
OBJECTIVE
We present a previously undescribed variant of the cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) and review the literature concerning other variants of the cavernous ICA.


METHODS
The patient, a 53-year-old woman with fibromuscular dysplasia and multiple intracranial aneurysms, underwent cerebral angiography in preparation for clipping of a terminal ICA bifurcation aneurysm that demonstrated a redundant loop of the cavernous ICA abutting the supraclinoid carotid artery.


METHODS
The patient underwent a pterional craniotomy to approach a terminal ICA bifurcation aneurysm. During the procedure, an unexpected vascular anomaly was discovered. On further dissection, we confirmed that the vascular abnormality was a segment of the ICA that had herniated through the superomedial cavernous sinus wall.


CONCLUSIONS
This case demonstrates that the cavernous ICA may become dehiscent from the cavernous sinus wall and herniate into the suprasellar space. Knowledge and anticipation of anatomic variants of the cavernous carotid artery are essential to avoid inadvertent vascular injury during surgery.
Gottfried
Oren N
ON
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA.
Soleau
Scott W
SW
Couldwell
William T
WT
D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography