title: Ophthalmic artery originating from the anterior cerebral artery: anatomo-radiological study, histological analysis, and literature review.
abstract: The ophthalmic artery has an anomalous origin in 2-3 % of cases and rarely arises from the anterior cerebral artery. Herein, we provide the first anatomical, radiological, and histological description of such an anomalous origin, together with a literature review. During the anatomical dissection of an 81-year-old Caucasian male, the absence of the right ophthalmic artery in its usual location was evident from an endonasal transsphenoidal perspective. The specimen was then studied in detail, through multiple dissections, corrosion casting, high-resolution CT, and histological analysis. The English literature on anomalous origins of the ophthalmic artery was reviewed, together with reported associated pathologies. Anatomo-radiological analysis documented that the right ophthalmic artery arose from the inferior surface of A1 tract of the anterior cerebral artery (A1) and passed over the optic nerve in its subarachnoid tract. A meningo-ophthalmic artery was evident on the same side and reached the orbit through the superior orbital fissure. Histological examination of both internal carotid artery (ICA) walls documented a significantly decreased thickness of the tunica media and adventitia on the side of the anomalous ophthalmic artery, with a significantly different content of collagen types I and III. The literature review documented an association of aneurysms and anomalous ophthalmic arteries. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first anatomical report that includes a radiological and arterial wall analysis of a persistent ventral ophthalmic artery. The latter provides histological data that support the clinical evidence of a higher association of aneurysms with anomalous origins of the ophthalmic artery.
authors.affiliation: Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Belotti
authors.affiliation: Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy. francesco.doglietto@unibs.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Doglietto
authors.affiliation: Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco Angelo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cocchi
authors.affiliation: Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lancini
authors.affiliation: Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buffoli
authors.affiliation: ENT surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nicolai
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco Maria
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fontanella
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maroldi
authors.affiliation: Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tschabitscher
authors.affiliation: Anatomy and Physiopathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi Fabrizio
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Rodella
mesh_terms: D020771:Anterior Cerebral Artery / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000072177:Radiologists
keywords: Anatomy; Aneurysm pathogenesis; Ophthalmic artery