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Ascending pharyngeal artery–posterior inferior cerebellar artery anastomosis via the jugular foramen: a case report and literature review

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Abstract

The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) rarely arises from the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and is called persistent trigeminal artery variant. The PICA also can arise from the cervical segment of the ICA, and it enters the posterior fossa via the hypoglossal canal, where it is called persistent hypoglossal artery variant. Using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), we diagnosed a 79-year-old man with a PICA arising from the ascending pharyngeal artery and passing through the medial side of the jugular foremen pars vascularis. Only six cases of this variation have been reported previously in the English language literature. To identify this variation on MRA, the careful observation of source images is useful. Recognizing this variation is important in order to avoid ischemic cerebellar complications during neck surgery and endovascular therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Saitama Sekishinkai Hospital, A. Uchino, MD: 2-37-20 Irumagawa Sayama, Saitama, 350-1305, Japan

    Akira Uchino & Hitoshi Ohno

  2. Department of Neuroendovascular Therapy, Saitama Sekishinkai Hospital, Saitama, Japan

    Ryushi Kondo & Shoichiro Ishihara

Authors
  1. Akira Uchino
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  2. Hitoshi Ohno
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  3. Ryushi Kondo
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  4. Shoichiro Ishihara
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Contributions

AU carried out the study design and drafted the manuscript. All authors reviewed the manuscript critically, and have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Akira Uchino.

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Uchino, A., Ohno, H., Kondo, R. et al. Ascending pharyngeal artery–posterior inferior cerebellar artery anastomosis via the jugular foramen: a case report and literature review. Surg Radiol Anat 43, 1019–1022 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02667-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02667-5

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