A rare variant of accessory posterior cerebral artery

Abstract

Background: The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) leaves from the distal end of the basilar artery (BA) and is joined to the internal carotid artery (ICA) by the posterior communicating artery (PComA).

Method: The archived computed tomography angiogram of a 67 y.o. male patient was studied anatomically.

Results: Anatomically normal PCAs left the BA. Both anterior choroidal arteries were found but the right one was hyperplastic. As the latter distributed parieto-occipital and calcarine branches, it was regarded as an accessory PCA. It was laterally to the normal one, inferior to the vein of Rosenthal.

Conclusion: The terms "accessory PCA" and "hyperplastic anterior choroidal artery" describe the same morphology. Rare anatomical variants could benefit from a homogenous terminology.

Keywords: Anatomic variation; Basilar artery; Circle of Willis; Duplicated posterior cerebral artery; Internal carotid artery.