Korean J Radiol.  2008 Jul;9(Suppl):S39-S42. 10.3348/kjr.2008.9.s.s39.

Two Cases of Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery and Right Vertebral Artery that Originated from the Right Common Carotid Artery

• Park JK
• Kim SH
• Kim BS
• Choi G

• KMID: 1100102
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2008.9.s.s39

Abstract

We present here two patients that had an aberrant right subclavian artery and an anomalous origin of the right vertebral artery from the right common carotid artery. We review the previous literature and discuss herein the embryologic mechanism and clinical implications of this variation.

Keyword

Aberrant right subclavian artery; Right vertebral artery; Anomalous origin, CT

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Carotid Artery, Common/*abnormalities/radiography
Female
Humans
Male
Subclavian Artery/*abnormalities/radiography
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vertebral Artery/*abnormalities/radiography

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Aberrant right subclavian artery with right vertebral artery originating from right common carotid artery. A. Enhanced oblique coronal multiplanar reconstruction CT image shows aberrant right subclavian artery (arrow) originating from aortic arch distal to left subclavian artery. B. Oblique sagittal maximum intensity projection image shows right vertebral artery originating from right common carotid artery at inferior border of right thyroid gland, and note aberrant entrance to C5 transverse foramen. C. Enhanced axial CT image reveal close spatial relation between right vertebral artery originating from right common carotid artery (arrow) and right thyroid gland.

• 

  Fig. 2 Aberrant right subclavian artery with right vertebral artery originating from right common carotid artery. A. Enhanced axial CT image at upper thorax level shows retrotracheal aberrant right subclavian artery (arrow) and left vertebral artery originating from aortic arch between left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery (double arrows). B. Oblique sagittal maximum intensity projection image shows right vertebral artery originating from right common carotid artery and aberrant entrance to C5 transverse foramen. C. Enhanced axial CT image reveals close spatial relation between right vertebral artery originating from right common carotid artery (arrow) and right thyroid gland.

• 

  Fig. 3 Schematic diagram of embryologic development of aberrant right subclavian artery and right CCA-VA variation. Longitudinal anastomosis of right CIA stops between 6th and 7th CIA, and right side dorsal aorta is obliterated proximal to 7th CIA. Right side SCA originates from left side aorta distal to left SCA, and right VA originates from right common carotid artery. Dashed lines are obliterated zone during the development of vascular system. CCA = common carotid artery, CIA = cervical intersegment artery, III = third aortic arch, IV = fourth aortic arch, LCC = left common carotid artery, RCC = right common carotid artery, SCA = subclavian artery, VA = vertebral artery

Reference

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