J Korean Soc Radiol.  2014 Mar;70(3):191-194. 10.3348/jksr.2014.70.3.191.

Aberrant Right Vertebral Artery Originating from the Aortic Arch Distal to the Left Subclavian Artery: A Case Report

• Baek SH
• Baek HJ

• KMID: 1839430
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2014.70.3.191

Abstract

We present a rare case of an aberrant right vertebral artery originated from the distal aortic arch. This issue has been incidentally detected on a preoperative CT angiography after a stabbing injury of the cervical spinal cord. Normally, the right vertebral artery originates from the right subclavian artery. Therefore, in this case report we will review the incidence and the embryological mechanism of this aberrant course of the right vertebral artery and we will discuss as well the clinical importance of this variation.

MeSH Terms

Angiography
Aorta, Thoracic*
Incidence
Spinal Cord
Subclavian Artery*
Vertebral Artery*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A 34-year-old man with an incidentally diagnosed aberrant right vertebral artery. A. Unenhanced axial CT image reveals a linear, hypodense foreign body (chopstick, arrowheads) in the right central spinal canal (L) at C4-5 level caused by stabbing injury. B. Enhanced axial CT image reveals an aberrant origin of the right vertebral artery (RVA) with a Kummerell's diverticulum at its origin (arrow). C. Three dimensional volume rendering image demonstrates an anomalous origin of the RVA (arrows) that originating from the aortic arch distal to the left subclavian artery. D, E. Enhanced axial CT images shows an unusual course of the RVA. The prevertebral segment (arrows) is located in the retroesophageal and retrotracheal areas. F, G. Enhanced axial CT images reveal an aberrant entrance to the C7 transverse foramen of the RVA (arrow) which is compared with a normal entrance to the C6 transverse foramen of the left vertebral artery (open arrow).

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