title: Endoscopic anatomy of persistent trigeminal artery: a cadaveric study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persistent trigeminal artery (PTA) is one of the carotid-basilar anastomoses and occasionally complicates vascular or neoplastic pathology. The aim of this study was to become more familiar with the anatomy associated with PTA using an endoscopic view.
  
  
  METHODS
  PTA was incidentally encountered in a fresh cadaver. Purely endoscopic approaches via supraorbital (extradural and intradural routes), endonasal, and retrosigmoid routes were performed with 4-mm, 0- and 30-degree rigid endoscopes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PTA belonged to Salas's lateral type and Saltzman's type 1. The supraorbital extradural approach allowed good visualization of the origin and the cavernous portion of the PTA through the infratrochlear triangle. Using the endonasal route, the cisternal portion of the PTA and its confluence to the basilar artery were demonstrated after opening the clival dura; however, the origin of the PTA and the cavernous portion of the PTA were not sufficiently exposed even using a direct approach to the cavernous sinus. The retrosigmoid approach revealed the anatomical relationship among the PTA, trigeminal nerve, and abducent nerve in the petroclival region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These 3 endoscopic approaches provided a superb image of the PTA and contribute to the anatomical comprehension of PTA. Additionally, these approaches make us more familiar with an endoscopic view of PTA.
authors.affiliation: Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Systematic Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. fuminarikomatsu@gmail.com
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Ieva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tschabitscher
mesh_terms: D000010:Abducens Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002102:Cadaver; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology