Primitive Trigeminal Artery: A Route for Emboli and Collateral

@#INTRODUCTION: Persistent carotid-basilar anastomoses are potentially clinically relevant anomalies of the intracranial vasculature. The trigeminal artery is the largest and persists for the longest embryonic period among the anastomoses. The increasing use of arteriographic procedures has augmented its incidence to 0.1-1%. This is a case of a 39-yearold male who presented with acute occipital lobe infarct after sustaining a traumatic right carotid dissection. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old male was brought in to the emergency room after a 200-kilogram sack fell on his upper back. He landed on his chest with his head rotated to the right and sustained multiple lacerations on his face and chest. There were noted acute bilateral loss of vision, lethargy and unsteady gait. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain showed neither infarct nor hemorrhage. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed an acute occipital lobe infarct. The patient was started on antiplatelet. Further workup revealed a totally occluded right common carotid artery upon carotid duplex. His vision improved to be able to perceive light and hand movement. Further workup was done as an outpatient. A week after hospital discharge, patient’s vision improved to left bilateral hemianopsia. His gait has improved and was able to walk with balance. A cerebral angiogram later revealed a large bilateral persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA). The right PPTA provided collateral flow to the right cerebral hemisphere. This primitive collateral vessel is believed to have served as a route for emboli to be thrown to the posterior circulation in the occipital lobe. CONSLUSION: The consideration of a persistent primitive carotid-basilar anastomoses may elucidate the physician when a gap between patient’s manifestation and imaging studies exist. The presence of persistent carotid-basilar anastomoses may herald other vascular anomalies, it may offer as alternative endovascular access, or may serve as access for emboli passage.

Diagnosis of variants of carotid-vertebasilar anastomoses on MR angiography / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To explore the feature of embryonic communication between the carotid and vertebro-basilar system using MRA of head and neck on MR. Methods The MRA images from 7 246 consecutive patients in Liaocheng People's hospital between June 2009 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The feature of embryonic communication between internal carotid, external carotid artery and vertebro-basilar system using MRA was analyzed by two doctors. Results Forty-four cases of embryonic communication between the carotid and vertebro-basilar system were found. Thirty-nine cases of primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) and primitive trigeminal artery variants (PTAV) were detected by MRA. The prevalence of both PTA and PTAV was 0.54% (PTA, 27 cases;PTAV, 12 cases). Twenty-three cases of PTA were lateral types;four cases were medial types. All PTA originated from C4 portion of internal carotid artery, of which 27 cases connected with the basilar artery and two cases connected with the superior cerebellar artery. The region of the BA proximal to the site of convergence with the PTA was hypoplastic in seven cases and completely absent in two cases. Three cases of primitive hypoglossal artery and 2 cases of primitive proatlantal artery were detected by MRA. The prevalence of primitive hypoglossal artery and primitive proatlantal artery was 0.04% and 0.03 % respectively. Two cases of primitive hypoglossal artery were from the lateral internal carotid artery and one was from the external carotid artery. It's all on the right side. One case of primitive proatlantal artery was on the left which arises from the external carotid artery, one on the right which originated from the outer part of the internal carotid artery. Thirty-four cases were coexisted with other variants of head and neck vessels. All of the primitive hypoglossal arteries were coexisted with vertebral artery absence. One case of primitive proatlantal intersegmental artery was coexisted with vertebral artery dysplasia. Eighteen cases were associated with cerebral infarctions, and three cases with aneurysm. Conclusions MRA can accurately assess the variants of carotid-vertebasilar anastomoses and have diagnostic significance.

Acute Ischemic Stroke Involving Both Anterior and Posterior Circulation Treated by Endovascular Revascularization for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion via Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery

We report a case of acute ischemic stroke involving both the anterior and posterior circulation associated with a persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA), treated by endovascular revascularization for acute basilar artery (BA) occlusion via the PPTA. An otherwise healthy 67-year-old man experienced sudden loss of consciousness and quadriplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an extensive acute infarction in the right cerebral hemisphere, and magnetic resonance angiography showed occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) and BA. Because the volume of infarction in the territory of the right MCA was extensive, we judged the use of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator to be contraindicated. Cerebral angiography revealed hypoplasia of both vertebral arteries and the presence of a PPTA from the right internal carotid artery. A microcatheter was introduced into the BA via the PPTA and revascularization was successfully performed using a Merci Retriever with adjuvant low-dose intraarterial urokinase. After treatment, his consciousness level and right motor weakness improved. Although persistent carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses such as a PPTA are relatively rare vascular anomalies, if the persistent primitive artery is present, it can be an access route for mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Caused by Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery

A 66-year-old man presented with typical trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed a primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) that came into contact with the trigeminal nerve. Based on MRA, we performed microvascular decompression (MVD). In the operational field, we confirmed the PTA location and performed MVD successfully. Postoperatively, the patient's pain subsided without any complications.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Caused by Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery

A 66-year-old man presented with typical trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed a primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) that came into contact with the trigeminal nerve. Based on MRA, we performed microvascular decompression (MVD). In the operational field, we confirmed the PTA location and performed MVD successfully. Postoperatively, the patient's pain subsided without any complications.

Direct Carotid Cavernous Fistula of an Adult-Type Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery with Multiple Vascular Variations

We report a case of spontaneous right carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) in a proximal segment of persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA) and combined vascular anomalies such as left duplicated hypoplastic proximal posterior cerebral arteries and a variation of anterior choroidal artery supplying temporal and occipital lobe. A 45-year-old male presented with progressive right exophthalmos, diplopia, and ocular pain. With manual compression of the internal carotid artery, a cerebral angiography revealed a right CCF from a PPTA. Treatment involved the placement of detachable non-fibered and fibered coils, and use of a hyperglide balloon to protect against coil herniation into the internal carotid artery. A final angiograph revealed complete occlusion of PPTA resulted in no contrast filling of CCF.

Transvenous Coil Embolization of Traumatic Carotid-Cavernous Fistula Associated with a Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

A 45-year-old male presented with left pulsatile tinnitus and left conjunctival chemosis after blunt head trauma. Cerebral angiography demonstrated a left carotid-cavernous sinus fistula associated with a persistent primitive trigeminal artery. The fistula was packed with detachable coils through the transvenous approach and was successfully occluded without complication, while preserving the patency of the persistent primitive trigeminal artery. The patient's symptoms resolved soon after treatment. Persistent primitive trigeminal artery can be associated with a traumatic cavernous sinus fistula and transvenous coil embolization can be a safe and effective method to immediately occlude the fistula.

Primitive trigeminal artery-cavernous sinus fistula and ICA-primitive trigeminal artery aneurysm:report of two cases and review of literatures / 中国脑血管病杂志

The authors described two cases with primitive trigeminal artery. Case 1 was a 32-year-old woman who suffered dizziness and a serious pulsatile intracranial bruit on the left ear, and sometimes associated with pulsatile intracranial bearing-pain on the left temporal side six months before she was admitted to the hospital. She also suffered from obvious diplopia on left lateral gaze for the last 5 months. She had suffered no recent trauma. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) demonstrated a suspected intracranial aneurysm located in left cavernous sinus. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed and a primitive trigeminal artery-cavernous sinus fistula in left side was found. Intraluminal occlusion of the fistula was successfully performed immediately after angiography using 6 Guglielmi detachable coils (GDC), and the patient was cured finally. Case 2 was a 28-year-old woman who suffered a serious intermittent cephalodynia associated with soreness on the left body two years before she was admitted to the hospital. She had suffered no recent trauma. Magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) demonstrated a suspected intracavernous aneurysm of the right internal carotid artery, Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed. Right internal carotid angiography showed a primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) run between the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery and the distal portion of the basilar artery. On initiation of PTA of R-ICA a small wide-necked saccular aneurysm was incidentally visualized. The aneurysm was successfully embolized after angiography using 2 Stent (Neuroform, 4.5mmm × 20mmm)-assisted detachable coils (Matrix), the ICA and PTA were preserved, and the patient was cured finally.

Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report

The persistent primitive trigeminal artery is the most common of the carotid-basilovertebral anastomoses and is located in the most cephalic portion of them. Embryologically arising from the internal carotid artery in the 4mm embryo, it supplies the longitudinal neural artery. Failure of regression of the trigeminal artery in the 14mm embryo results in the persistent primitive trigeminal artery. It is associated with a vascular anomaly in 25% of the cases, such as aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation, agenesis or hypoplasia of the internal carotid artery, and moyamoya disease. The authors present a case of persistent primitive trigeminal artery aneurysm presenting with the abducens nerve palsy. The clinical features of the persistent primitive trigeminal artery aneurysm are discussed, with the review of literature.

Persistent primitive trigeminal artery associated with cerebrovascular diseases and other cerebrosis / 介入放射学杂志

Persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA) is the most common permanent abnormal vascular anastomosis between carotid artery and basilar artery. PPTA is a rare cerebrovascular variation and is often associated with cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Clinically, PPTA manifests itself in symptoms such as trigeminal neuralgia, oculomotor paralysis, abducens nerve paralysis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, etc. This paper aims to review 116 PPTA cases with CVD and other cerebrosis, which have ever been reported since 1983 in English or Chinese medical literature.

2 Cases of Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery

Persistent primitive trigeminal artery is relatively rare cerebrovascular anomaly, usually observed on angiography or at autopsy. We reported two cases of persistent primitive trigeminal artery. One is associated with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage and the other intraventricular hemorrhage with scanty subarachnoid hemorrhage after minor head trauma. We reviewed the persistent primitive trigeminal artery and it's clinical significance. It's clinical significance seemed to be followed; 1) Formation of intracranial aneurysm due to increased arterial blood flow. 2) pathway for microemboli from carotid system to basilar system. 3) probable cause hemodynamic cerebral ischemia. 4) unexpected finding during surgical procedure.