Persistent basilar/middle meningeal artery anastomosis

Area of Science:

• Vascular anatomy
• Neuroangiography
• Embryology

Background:

• The basilar artery and middle meningeal artery typically have distinct territories.
• Anastomoses between these major arteries are exceptionally rare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document and describe a rare basilar/middle meningeal artery anastomosis.
• To provide an embryological explanation for this vascular anomaly.

Main Methods:

• Angiographic demonstration of three distinct cases.
• Literature review for similar documented cases.

Main Results:

• Successful angiographic visualization of the basilar/middle meningeal artery anastomosis in three patients.
• Limited prior documentation found: only one similar anatomical case identified in the literature.

Conclusions:

• The basilar/middle meningeal artery anastomosis is an exceedingly rare vascular variation.
• An embryological basis for this anastomosis is proposed and discussed.