Acute Cerebral Infarction in a Patient with Persistent Trigeminal Artery and Homolateral Hypoplasia of Internal Carotid Artery Distal Anastomosis: A Case Report and a Mini Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background: Persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA) is a rare remnant between the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the basilar artery into adulthood. PPTA generally lacks specific clinical manifestations and occasionally accompanies with other cerebrovascular diseases.

Case presentation: We reported a 48-year-old Chinese woman who had repeated episodes of transient ischemic attack presented to our hospital. She had no related risk factors of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. Magnetic resonance image findings demonstrated acute cerebral infraction in centrum semiovale. Magnetic resonance angiography findings indicated right PPTA and ipsilateral hypoplasia of ICA distal anastomosis.

Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that acute cerebral infarction in a patient with the right PPTA and ipsilateral hypoplasia of ICA distal anastomosis. According to the literature, congenital factor may play an important role in the formation of these vascular anomalies.

Keywords: Persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA); acute cerebral infarction; basilar artery (BA); internal carotid artery (ICA); magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).