Author/Authors :
Iwai, Toshinori Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Graduate School of Medicine - University of Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan , Izumi, Toshiharu Department of Radiology - University and Hospital of Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan , Inoue, Tomio Department of Radiology - University and Hospital of Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan , Maegawa, Jiro Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - University and Hospital of Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan , Fuwa, Nobukazu Department of Radiation Oncology - Southern Tohoku Proton Therapy Center - Southern Tohoku Research Institute of Neuroscience, Fukushima, Japan , Mitsudo, Kenji Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Graduate School of Medicine - University of Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan , Tohnai, Iwai Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - Graduate School of Medicine - University of Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan
Abstract :
Variation of the branches of the external carotid artery (ECA) is well known, but it is extremely
rare for the occipital artery (OA) to arise from the internal carotid artery (ICA). A
87-year-old man was found to have this anatomical variation on the right side by threedimensional
computed tomography angiography for vascular mapping of the carotid
arteries before superselective intra-arterial catheterization for advanced tongue cancer.
Imaging showed the OA arose from the anterior aspect of the right ICA with the origin located
8.8 mm distal from the carotid bifurcation. The inner diameter of the origin of the
OA was 2.1 mm and the angle between the OA and the ICA was 62 degrees. It is important
to recognize this anatomic variation of the branches of the ECA before head and neck microsurgical
reconstruction or superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy for oral cancer.
Keywords :
Arteries , Internal carotid artery , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
