Citation

Al-Okaili R, Schwartz ED. Surg. Neurol. 2007; 67(2): 174-6; discussion 176.

Affiliation

Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.surneu.2006.02.045

PMID

17254881

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bilateral aortic origins of the vertebral arteries are a rare anatomic variant, with fewer than 20 cases reported in the literature. This particular variant has only been reported twice. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 35-year-old woman presented to the emergency department after trauma to the head and a witnessed convulsion. Subsequent workup included MRI/MRA, which resulted in identification of the anomaly. CONCLUSION: The clinical importance of aortic arch anomalies lies in that it may be a source of misinterpretation, as one may conclude occlusion of the vertebral artery if the aberrant origin is not included in the MRA or CTA imaging parameters. Therefore, it is important to scan through the entire aortic arch to just below the level of the ligamentum arteriosum when performing these noninvasive modalities. In addition, vertebral arteries arising from the aortic arch have an increased risk of dissection.

Language: en