Korean J Radiol.  2011 Dec;12(6):740-744. 10.3348/kjr.2011.12.6.740.

Bilateral Carotid and Vertebral Rete Mirabile Presenting with a Prominent Anterior Spinal Artery Mimicking a Spinal Dural AV Fistula at MRI

• Lee SY
• Cha SH

• KMID: 1101929
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2011.12.6.740

Abstract

Bilateral carotid and vertebral rete mirabile (CVRM) is a very rare condition. We report a new case of CVRM initially detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine. MRI demonstrated tortuous vascular signal voids limited to the anterior cerebrospinal fluid space mimicking spinal dural arteriovenous fistula. A diagnosis of CVRM was confirmed on the basis of angiographic findings of rete formation associated with bilateral aplasia of the cavernous internal carotid and vertebral arteries without abnormal arteriovenous connection.

Keyword

Carotid and vertebral rete mirabile; MRI

MeSH Terms

Adult
Carotid Arteries/*abnormalities/pathology/radiography
Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations/*diagnosis
Cervical Vertebrae/pathology
Humans
*Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vertebral Artery/*abnormalities/pathology/radiography