Treatment of Aneurysms in Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Arteries with Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization

Persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA) is a rare condition in which a fetal carotid-basilar anastomosis persists into adulthood. PPTA aneurysms often necessitate endovascular treatment and adjunctive techniques, such as stent- or balloon-assisted techniques, are sometimes selected. This case report describes two women in their sixties with unruptured right PPTA aneurysms who underwent stent-assisted coil embolization procedures, with consideration of the anatomical features in each case.

One patient presented with an aneurysm at the bifurcation of the PPTA and the basilar artery (BA), which was classified as Saltzman type 1 with a hypoplastic vertebral artery (VA)-BA system. A stent was deployed from the BA to the PPTA to cover the neck of the aneurysm and coil embolization was performed. The second patient presented with an aneurysm at the bifurcation of the PPTA and the internal carotid artery (ICA), which was classified as Saltzman type 2 with a hypoplastic VA-BA system. A stent was deployed from the PPTA to the petrous segment of the ICA covering the neck of the aneurysm and coil embolization was performed. In both patients, the 1-year follow-up digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed that the aneurysms had not recurred.

The PPTA aneurysms were successfully treated with stent-assisted coil embolization. The treatment strategy should be devised in accordance with both the lesion site and the PPTA variant.