Bilateral duplicated hypoplastic superior cerebellar arteries one of which originates from a full-type fetal posterior cerebral artery.

Abstract

Purpose: The association of bilateral duplication of the superior cerebellar artery with an origin from the posterior cerebral artery is rare but of great interest to anatomists, radiologists, and surgeons. This article reports bilateral duplicated hypoplastic superior cerebellar arteries, one of which arises from a full-type fetal cerebral artery.

Material and method: A 59-year-old woman admitted to the neurosurgery department for a subarachnoid hemorrhage underwent a brain CTA with 3D reconstruction using «3D slicer 4.11» software. Brain CTA and the 3D model were used to analyze the configuration of the posterior circulation.

Results: CTA images and the 3D model showed an unusual configuration of the posterior circulation. The basilar artery prolonged the left vertebral artery, while the right vertebral artery ended in the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery. On both sides, a full-type fetal posterior cerebral artery and duplicated hypoplastic superior cerebellar artery were observed. Three cerebellar arteries arose from the basilar artery, while the fourth one emerged from the right fetal posterior cerebral artery.

Conclusion: Knowledge of such a configuration of the posterior circulation and others is necessary before radiological and surgical procedures. It helps to understand hemodynamic events, and neurovascular conflicts, improve revascularization procedures, and avoid surgical arterial and nervous injuries.