A Rare Variantion of Left Vertebral Artery Originating from External Carotid Artery: A Case Report

Abstract

Kenan Kıbıcı, Ali Onder Atca and Berrin Erok

Variations of vertebral arteries are congenital anomalies occurring during the embryonic development. We established a variant left vertebral artery which is a branch of left external carotid artery, by using magnetic resonance angiography and computerized tomographic angiography in a 43-year-old female patient whose vertebral arteries could not be detected in Doppler ultrasonography performed for the evaluation of her dizziness. This vertebral artery was extending up outside the transverse foramina until it entered into the left transverse foramen of the cervical vertebrae at the C1 level. Awareness of such variations of vertebral arteries is important with regard to the prevention of possible cerebrovascular injuries in interventional radiological procedures and vascular surgeries. For this reason, we would like to present this rare case of left vertebral artery showing a different origin and course outside the transverse foramina.

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