Congenital Absence of Right Internal Carotid Artery: Demonstration of Collateral Circulation by Computed Tomography Angiography View PDF

^*Irmak Durur-Subasi
Department Of Radiology, Faculty Of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey

^*Corresponding Author:

Irmak Durur-Subasi
Department Of Radiology, Faculty Of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
Email:irmakdurur@yahoo.com

Published on: 2014-06-30

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrated a case with right internal carotid artery absence and collateral circulation via anterior communicating artery. A 58-year-old female with vertigo was referred to our department for computed tomography angiography. On arterial phase images, there was no internal carotid artery on the right. At the level of circle of Willis, right anterior and middle cerebral arteries were supplied by the contralateral internal carotid artery by means of anterior communicating artery. On bone window right carotid canal is also absent. Volume rendering technique revealed the absence of right internal carotid artery and collateral circulation via anterior communicating artery clearly. Absence of internal carotid artery is generally asymptomatic. Computed tomography angiography can visualize pathologies of carotid arteries and circle of Willis.

Keywords

Absence; Internal carotid artery; Computed tomography angiography

Introduction

The internal carotid artery emerges from the common carotid artery at the level of the neck and supplies the anterior part of the brain, the eye and its appendages, nose, and anterior portion of head. In the absence of this artery these regions are supplied by the collateral circulation.