J Korean Soc Radiol.  2015 Aug;73(2):124-126. 10.3348/jksr.2015.73.2.124.

Separate Origins of the Internal and External Carotid Arteries Depicted on CT Angiography: A Case Report

• Choi KH
• Baek HJ
• Jung HK

• KMID: 1964264
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2015.73.2.124

Abstract

Agenesis of the common carotid artery (CCA) is a rare congenital anomaly. We presented a rare case of unilateral congenital absence of the right CCA with separate origins of the ipsilateral internal and external carotid arteries from the brachiocephalic artery. Further, we reviewed the embryological mechanism and clinical importance of this anomaly.

MeSH Terms

Angiography*
Arteries
Carotid Artery, Common
Carotid Artery, External*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A 61-year-old woman with incidentally diagnosed agenesis of the right common carotid artery (CCA) with independent origins of the right internal carotid artery (ICA) and the right external carotid artery (ECA). A, B. Contrast-enhanced three-dimensional surface-shaded rendering CT angiography demonstrating the absence of the right CCA. The right ICA and ECA arise directly from the brachiocephalic artery, and the right ECA originates proximal to the right ICA. Arrow, right ICA origin; asterisk, right ECA origin; B, branchiocephalic artery; C, left CCA; E, right ECA; I, right ICA; and S, right subclavian artery.

Reference

1. Woodruff WW 3rd, Strunsky VP, Brown NJ. Separate origins of the left internal and external carotid arteries directly from the aortic arch: duplex sonographic findings. J Ultrasound Med. 1995; 14:867–869.

2. Maybody M, Uszynski M, Morton E, Vitek JJ. Absence of the common carotid artery: a rare vascular anomaly. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2003; 24:711–713.

3. Simons D, Patetsios P, Moglia R, Dietz P. A case of congenital absence of the right common carotid artery: a rare embryologic anomaly. J Vasc Ultrasound. 2003; 27:106–109.

4. Berczi V, Bottomley JR, Gopalan D, Griffiths PD, Gaines PA, Cleveland TJ. Absent right common carotid artery with stenting of symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis. J Vasc Surg. 2014; 59:1418–1421.

5. Yim SJ, Ryu JH, Baik JS, Kim JY, Park JH, Han SW. Common carotid artery agenesis: duplex ultrasonographic findings. J Clin Neurol. 2009; 5:149–150.

6. Cakirer S, Karaarslan E, Kayabali M, Rozanes I. Separate origins of the left internal and external carotid arteries from the aortic arch: MR angiographic findings. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2002; 23:1600–1602.

7. Baek SH, Baek HJ. Aberrant Right Vertebral Artery Originating from the Aortic Arch Distal to the Left Subclavian Artery: a case report. J Korean Soc Radiol. 2014; 70:191–194.

8. Lie TA. Congenital anomalies of the carotid arteries: an angiographic study and a review of the literature. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica Foundation;1968. p. 30–35.

9. Dungan DH, Heiserman JE. The carotid artery: embryology, normal anatomy, and physiology. Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 1996; 6:789–799.