Duplicated fetal posterior cerebral artery in a patient with a ruptured fetal posterior cerebral artery aneurysm: a cerebrovascular variant.

BACKGROUND: The most common neurovascular variant is the fetal posterior cerebral artery (FPCA), in which the P1 branch is absent or hypoplastic, and the majority of P2 supply is derived from the anterior circulation. While there are reports of hyperplastic anterior choroidal arteries (AChA) with supply to the temporo-occipital and calcarine regions, no reports of a duplicated FPCA exist. METHODS: This case report describes a patient with a ruptured right FPCA aneurysm. Digital subtraction angiogram (DSA) revealed an artery with origin distal to the FPCA associated with the aneurysm. This was not consistent with a typical AChA. The FPCA associated with the aneurysm had the typical origin, course, and supply of a FPCA. The distal FPCA had a similar course of a typical FPCA with significant supply to the typical PCA territory. The patient underwent successful clipping of the aneurysm, and the duplicated FPCA was identified during the craniotomy. RESULTS: The features of this duplicate FPCA, which has not been previously described, are discussed in comparison to another variant, the hyperplastic, anomalous AChA. The artery described in this report does not fit the typical criteria of this AChA variant. Therefore, the authors outline this variant as a duplicated FPCA. CONCLUSION: Recognition of variant cerebrovascular anatomy is vital to neurosurgeons and interventional neuroradiology specialists. FPCA aneurysms require special management considerations and are often more challenging to treat. This report discusses a duplicated FPCA. To our knowledge, this is the first description of this variant. A duplicated FPCA carries important management considerations in the management of neurovascular pathology.

Treatment of intraorbital arteriovenous fistulas with direct puncture: a case series and review of treatments since 1978.

Intraorbital arteriovenous fistulas (IOAVFs) are rare vascular pathologies that may be effectively treated with direct puncture (DP) of the venous supply and may offer a definitive and safe cure when done under ultrasound or stereotactic guidance. Here we present three new cases of DP treatment of IOAVFs, indications for safe use, and their potential complications in comparison to the existing literature on DP and other modalities.Three patients with IOAVFs were treated with DP with ultrasound guidance, stereotactic guidance, and fluoroscopy. Final digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed complete cure of IOAVFs. A literature review via PubMed was performed on treatments of IOAVFs since 1978.All three cases of DP resulted in successful cures with 2/3 cases resulting in complications from orbital hematoma formation. 49 total treatments including the cases herein have been documented. DP treatment constituted 5/49, conservative management 17/49, transarterial 8/49, transvenous 18/49, and surgical 3/49. Some cases received more than one mode of treatment. Transarterial and surgical managements were found to have higher complication rates than transvenous and DP.DP is a safe and effective treatment of IOAVFs that can be performed via multiple image guided methods and guarantees a definitive cure. Orbital hematomas are a potential complication of which operators should be aware.