Suprasellar displacement of intracavernous internal carotid artery: case report.
OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: We present a previously undescribed variant of the cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) and review the literature concerning other variants of the cavernous ICA. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: The patient, a 53-year-old woman with fibromuscular dysplasia and multiple intracranial aneurysms, underwent cerebral angiography in preparation for clipping of a terminal ICA bifurcation aneurysm that demonstrated a redundant loop of the cavernous ICA abutting the supraclinoid carotid artery. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent a pterional craniotomy to approach a terminal ICA bifurcation aneurysm. During the procedure, an unexpected vascular anomaly was discovered. On further dissection, we confirmed that the vascular abnormality was a segment of the ICA that had herniated through the superomedial cavernous sinus wall. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that the cavernous ICA may become dehiscent from the cavernous sinus wall and herniate into the suprasellar space. Knowledge and anticipation of anatomic variants of the cavernous carotid artery are essential to avoid inadvertent vascular injury during surgery.
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Related Subject Headings
- Radiography
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Middle Aged
- Humans
- Female
- Cavernous Sinus
- Carotid Artery, Internal
- 5202 Biological psychology
- 3209 Neurosciences
- 3202 Clinical sciences
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Radiography
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Middle Aged
- Humans
- Female
- Cavernous Sinus
- Carotid Artery, Internal
- 5202 Biological psychology
- 3209 Neurosciences
- 3202 Clinical sciences