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Vertebral artery from descending thoracic aorta: rare anatomic variant with diagnostic implication
Arun Sharma1, Sanjeev Kumar2, Sanjiv Sharma2
1Department of Cardiovascular Radiology & Endovascular Interventions, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India. drarungautam@gmail.com.
Acta Neurochirurgica
|April 10, 2017
Summary
Anomalous vertebral arteries originating from the thoracic aorta are rare. This case highlights a unique bilateral vertebral artery anomaly in a congenital heart disease patient, crucial for surgical safety.
Area of Science:
- Anatomical variations
- Vascular anomalies
- Congenital heart disease
Background:
- Vertebral artery origins typically arise from the subclavian arteries.
- Anomalous origins are uncommon but documented.
- Bilateral anomalies are exceedingly rare.
Observation:
- A rare case of bilateral vertebral artery anomalies was identified.
- The right vertebral artery originated from the descending thoracic aorta.
- The left vertebral artery and bilateral subclavian arteries had normal origins.
Findings:
- This specific pattern of anomalous bilateral vertebral arteries, with the right vertebral artery arising from the descending thoracic aorta, has not been previously reported.
- The anomaly was found in a patient with cyanotic congenital heart disease.
Implications:
- Accurate identification of this vascular variation is critical for surgical planning.
- Avoiding inadvertent preoperative embolization of the anomalous right vertebral artery is essential to prevent catastrophic outcomes.
- This case expands the known spectrum of vertebral artery anatomical variations.