The clinical and computer tomography features of the aberrant internal carotid artery (ICA) in the cervical segment

JIA Yunsheng; GAO Yunsheng; WANG Huanjun

Abstract：Objective To describe the clinical and radiological features of the aberrant internal carotid artery ( ICA) in the cervical segment .Methods The clinical and radiological data were collectioned in 1812 cases between Sep 2012 and Dec 2012 , who underwent the head and neck CTA due to cerebrovascular disease or health examination .All of the CTA were made with Aq-uilion one 320-row-640-slice MDCT.The results were analyzed and measured by professional radiology physicians .Results 1) of 1812 cases, 17 were recognized with the aberrant internal carotid artery (ICA), the incidence was 0.938%(17/1812);2) 4 cases were recognized with the aberrant in the oropharynx segment , the CTA showed that the internal carotid artery ( ICA) run ad-jacent to the central axis in the oropharynx level , in a posterior position of the oropharynx mucous membrane;10 cases were recog-nized with the aberrant in the nasopharynx segment ,in which the internal carotid artery ( ICA) run in a posterior position of the na-sopharynx mucous membrane;3 cases presented with a purely circuity of the internal carotid artery ( away from the oropharynx cavity);All of the aberrant internal carotid arteries were circuitous , 4 cases with mild stenosis;The mean length of the abnormal oropharynx segment was (10 ±1.22) mm;The mean length of the abnormal nasopharynx segment was (5.36 ±2.69) mm;3) 1 case (1/17) with the aberrant in the oropharynx segment had local symptom (foreign bodies sensation in the pharyngeal portion );There was not enough evidence showed that the 10 cases (10/17) with anterior circulation ischemia was associated with the aber-rant internal carotid artery in the cervical segment .Conclusion The variation of the aberrant internal carotid artery in the cervi-cal segment was higher in Chinese .The position of the internal carotid artery should be confirmed before the oropharynx and naso -pharynx in order to avoid serious complications .As a noninvasive examination technology , CTA can comprehend the Courser and aberrant of the internal carotid artery accurately , and finally provide reliable anatomical basis to the surgery .