Maxillofacial trunk identified by three-dimensional computed tomography angiography.

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Vascular Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• The external carotid artery (ECA) exhibits significant branching variability.
• Common arterial trunks, such as the thyrolingual, linguofacial, and thyrolinguofacial trunks, arise from combinations of the superior thyroid, lingual, and facial arteries.
• Maxillofacial trunks, formed by the confluence of these specific arteries, represent an extremely rare anatomical variation.

Observation:

• This study reports a rare case involving the simultaneous identification of both maxillofacial and thyrolingual trunks.
• The anatomical variations were visualized and confirmed using advanced three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA).

Findings:

• The presence of both a maxillofacial trunk and a thyrolingual trunk originating from the external carotid artery was documented.
• This case highlights an exceptionally rare pattern of arterial anatomy in the head and neck region.

Implications:

• Accurate identification of such rare vascular variations is crucial for surgical planning in maxillofacial and head and neck procedures.
• Understanding these anomalies can help prevent intraoperative complications and improve patient outcomes.
• This finding contributes to the detailed anatomical knowledge of the external carotid artery system.