The inter-optic course of a unique precommunicating anterior cerebral artery with aberrant origin of an ophthalmic artery: an anatomic case report.
BACKGROUND
Some variations of the cerebral arterial circle of Willis, such as an inter-optic course of the anterior cerebral artery are exceedingly rare. Imaging of very rare anatomical features may be of interest.


METHODS
In a 67-year-old male individual, the unique precommunicating part of the left anterior cerebral artery was found to course between both optic nerves. There was an agenesis of the right precommunicating cerebral artery. This variation was associated with an aberrant origin of the ophthalmic artery, arising from the anterior cerebral artery. The anatomic features, the possible high prevalence of associated aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery complex as well as implications for surgical planning or endovascular treatments are outlined and embryologic considerations are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is a very rare illustrated case of an inter-optic course of a unique precommunicating anterior cerebral artery with aberrant origin of an ophthalmic artery.
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Amiens, CHU AMIENS Nord, Place Victor Pauchet, 80054, AMIENS Cedex 1, France. pierre.hannequin@gmail.com
Pierre
P
Hannequin
Johann
J
Peltier
Christophe
C
Destrieux
Stéphane
S
Velut
Eric
E
Havet
Daniel
D
Le Gars
D000368:Aged; D063405:Anatomic Variation; D020771:Anterior Cerebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology