Persistent trigeminal artery: a cross-sectional study based on over 3 years conventional angiography, CT angiography and MR angiography images.
OBJECTIVE
The trigeminal artery is one of the four primitive anastomosis established between the internal carotid artery and the vertebrobasilar system that regresses at the sixth week of embryonic development. Its persistence in adult life (PTA) is usually found incidentally. The aim of this study is to determine its prevalence, main characteristics and clinical significance.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed over the last 3 years, 2012-2014, to analyze images performed on conventional angiography, CT angiography and MR angiography of patients who attended the Neuroradiology Department of the Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre in Madrid, Spain, to control their underlying pathology.


RESULTS
Nine cases of PTA were found (prevalence 0.37 %, two men, seven women; three right, six left; age range 13-88 years). Eight PTA emerged from the cavernous ICA and one from the petrous segment. Six cases were lateral or petrosal type and one was medial or sphenoidal type. The whole PTAs anastomosed the BA, six at the middle third and three at the distal third. Weon et al.'s type 3 was predominant. CVD incidence was 55.6 % and aneurysm incidence was 22 %.


CONCLUSIONS
PTA prevalence was similar to those previously reported, being commonly left-sided, Salas et al.'s lateral or petrosal type, Weon et al.'s type 3 and with no gender predominance. CVD and aneurysms incidence in the presence of a PTA were higher than in general population. Its anatomical relations make it essential to consider its presence and directional blood flow when planning endovascular and neurosurgical treatments.
Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain. arraezla@med.ucm.es.|Institute of Morphofunctional Sciences, Madrid Complutense University, Madrid, Spain. arraezla@med.ucm.es.
Luis-Alfonso
LA
Arráez-Aybar
Institute of Morphofunctional Sciences, Madrid Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
Talia
T
Fuentes-Redondo
Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital Doce de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
José M
JM
Millán
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D063405:Anatomic Variation; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
Carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses; Intracranial aneurysms; Persistent cerebral embryonic artery; Trigeminal artery; Vascular anomalies