CTA and MRA characteristics of persistent trigeminal artery

LI Zhen; LIANG Yi; SHI Min; DU Bolin

Abstract：Objective To explore CTA and MRA characteristics of persistent trigeminal artery ( PTA) in an effort to improve the understanding of this vascular variation .Methods 9 patients with PTA , who received CTA and MRA , were analyzed retro-spectively.The origin, running, and blood supply from posterior circulation of PTA , and its complicated other vascular malforma-tions and cerebrovascular disease were analyzed .Results All the trigeminal arteries originated from the cavernous segment of in-ternal carotid artery , converged into basilar artery .4 cases were on the right side and 5 cases were on the left side .According to Saltzman’ s classification, 6 cases were Saltzman type I, 3 cases were Saltzman type Ⅲ, no one was type II.4 cases complicated with lacunar infarction , and 2 cases complicated with trigeminal neuralgia .Conclusion CTA and MRA can clearly display the PTA and its running .Understanding of PTA can explain clinical symptoms associated with it and avoid the risks caused by improp -er management in the sellar regions before surgery and interventional treatment .