Persistent carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses: cases of proatlantal artery Type I and Type II

Abstract

Persistence of fetal communications between the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems is uncommon. Persistent proatlantalartery is an anastomosis between the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems, typically classified as Type I and II. In this casereport, 600 angiographies are examined retrospectively and two persistent proatlantal arteries were observed - one withType I (0.16%) and the other with Type II (0.16%) proatlantal artery. Existence of these arteries are associated with intracranial vascular anomalies, especially aneurysms. In both of our cases, an aneurysm was detected in the middle cerebral artery.Precise knowledge of these anastomoses is essential for intracranial operations and catheterizations performed in this region.