Bilateral concurrent type I and type II persistent proatlantal arteries: A case report

Area of Science:

• Embryology
• Vascular Anatomy
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Embryonic development involves transient vascular connections between the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems.
• Persistence of these fetal anastomoses, such as the proatlantal intersegmental artery, represents a rare anatomical variation.
• These anomalies are typically discovered incidentally during imaging for other conditions.

Observation:

• The case presents a rare instance of bilateral concurrent persistence of both type I and type II proatlantal arteries.
• This bilateral occurrence is significantly less common than unilateral persistence.
• The anomaly involves a persistent connection between the internal carotid artery and the vertebrobasilar system.

Findings:

• Detailed embryological explanation of persistent carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses.
• Documentation of a rare bilateral presentation of proatlantal arteries (type I and type II).
• Analysis of the embryogenesis of these persistent vascular connections.

Implications:

• Understanding these rare vascular variations is crucial for accurate radiological interpretation.
• Knowledge of persistent proatlantal arteries aids in diagnosing cerebrovascular conditions.
• Clinical management may be influenced by the presence and type of these anomalous vessels.