Persistent Trigeminal Artery

FINDINGS:
3D TOF MRA of Circle of Willis shows a large vessel arising from the posterior aspect of the right cavernous C4 segment and connecting with the mid basilar artery. Left PCOM is absent or hypoplastic.

DISCUSSION:
Persistent trigeminal artery is the most common of persistent primitive carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomosis, and is seen in approximately 0.5% of all angiograms performed. Other rare primitive connections include proatlantal intersegmental artery, Otic artery, and Hypoglossal artery.

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