Persistent primitive trigeminal artery in monochorial twins. A case report.

Area of Science:

• Vascular anatomy
• Embryology
• Neurology

Background:

• The trigeminal artery is a fetal anastomosis between carotid and posterior circulation.
• It typically regresses after birth but can persist into adulthood.
• Persistence is most common in the trigeminal artery compared to other fetal anastomoses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of persistent primitive trigeminal artery.
• To describe its detection in a specific patient cohort (monochorial twins).
• To illustrate the utility of magnetic resonance angiography in diagnosing this anomaly.

Main Methods:

• Case report of two monochorial female twins.
• Diagnostic imaging using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Main Results:

• The persistent primitive trigeminal artery was identified in both twins.
• Magnetic resonance angiography successfully visualized the anomalous vessel.

Conclusions:

• Persistent primitive trigeminal artery is a rare vascular anomaly.
• Monochorial twins can present with this condition.
• MRA is an effective tool for diagnosing persistent primitive trigeminal artery.