A Prevalence Anatomic-Imaging Study of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery’s Origin

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Typically, the vertebral arteries (VAs) enter the posterior fossa through dural rings and further unite, forming the basilar artery. The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is usually a branch of the V4 segment of the VA (intradural origin). It m...

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Main Authors: Ana-Maria Davidoiu, Mugurel Constantin Rusu, Corneliu Toader, Petrinel Mugurel Rădoi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-08-01
Series:Medicina
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/9/1397
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author Ana-Maria Davidoiu
Mugurel Constantin Rusu
Corneliu Toader
Petrinel Mugurel Rădoi
author_facet Ana-Maria Davidoiu
Mugurel Constantin Rusu
Corneliu Toader
Petrinel Mugurel Rădoi
author_sort Ana-Maria Davidoiu
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Typically, the vertebral arteries (VAs) enter the posterior fossa through dural rings and further unite, forming the basilar artery. The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is usually a branch of the V4 segment of the VA (intradural origin). It may also leave the V3 suboccipital segment of the VA (extradural origin). The transdural origin of the PICA within the VA’s dural ring has been consistently overlooked. A study was designed to determine the topographical patterns of the PICA’s origin. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Determinations were performed in a retrospective sample of 225 computed tomography angiograms. Four types of PICA origin were documented: type 0, absent PICA; type 1, the extradural origin of the PICA from the V3 segment of the VA; type 2, the transdural origin of the PICA within the dural ring; and type 3, the intradural origin of the PICA from the V4 segment of the VA. The bilateral symmetry of types was also investigated. <i>Results</i>: Out of 450 VAs, type 0 (absent PICA) was found in 36%, type 1 (extradural) in 0.44%, type 2 (transdural) in 5.56%, and typical type 3 in just 58%. In types 1 and 2, the PICA entered the posterior fossa through the dural ring and the marginal sinus. In the overall group (N = 225), the type combinations 1_1, 1_2 and 1_3 were not found. Bilaterally absent PICAs occurred in 18.67%. The bilateral combinations 0_1/0_2/0_3/2_2/2_3/3_3 were found, respectively, in 0.89%/3.11%/30.67%/1.78%/4.44%/40.44%. Four of the seventy-eight PICAs opposite to an absent one, three intradural and one transdural, were true bihemispheric PICAs. <i>Conclusions</i>: The PICAs with extradural or transdural origins are facultative contents of the dural ring and are at risk during neurosurgical approaches in the foramen magnum. Rare bihemispheric PICAs could originate either intradurally or within the dural ring.
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spelling doaj-art-e7d257f3d4f04b70843439b986d1c8e22025-08-20T01:55:39ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442024-08-01609139710.3390/medicina60091397A Prevalence Anatomic-Imaging Study of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery’s OriginAna-Maria Davidoiu0Mugurel Constantin Rusu1Corneliu Toader2Petrinel Mugurel Rădoi3Doctoral School, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeş” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, RO-300041 Timişoara, RomaniaDepartment 1, Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, RO-020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment 6–Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, RO-020021 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment 6–Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, RO-020021 Bucharest, Romania<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Typically, the vertebral arteries (VAs) enter the posterior fossa through dural rings and further unite, forming the basilar artery. The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is usually a branch of the V4 segment of the VA (intradural origin). It may also leave the V3 suboccipital segment of the VA (extradural origin). The transdural origin of the PICA within the VA’s dural ring has been consistently overlooked. A study was designed to determine the topographical patterns of the PICA’s origin. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Determinations were performed in a retrospective sample of 225 computed tomography angiograms. Four types of PICA origin were documented: type 0, absent PICA; type 1, the extradural origin of the PICA from the V3 segment of the VA; type 2, the transdural origin of the PICA within the dural ring; and type 3, the intradural origin of the PICA from the V4 segment of the VA. The bilateral symmetry of types was also investigated. <i>Results</i>: Out of 450 VAs, type 0 (absent PICA) was found in 36%, type 1 (extradural) in 0.44%, type 2 (transdural) in 5.56%, and typical type 3 in just 58%. In types 1 and 2, the PICA entered the posterior fossa through the dural ring and the marginal sinus. In the overall group (N = 225), the type combinations 1_1, 1_2 and 1_3 were not found. Bilaterally absent PICAs occurred in 18.67%. The bilateral combinations 0_1/0_2/0_3/2_2/2_3/3_3 were found, respectively, in 0.89%/3.11%/30.67%/1.78%/4.44%/40.44%. Four of the seventy-eight PICAs opposite to an absent one, three intradural and one transdural, were true bihemispheric PICAs. <i>Conclusions</i>: The PICAs with extradural or transdural origins are facultative contents of the dural ring and are at risk during neurosurgical approaches in the foramen magnum. Rare bihemispheric PICAs could originate either intradurally or within the dural ring.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/9/1397cerebellumvertebral arterycerebellar arteryforamen magnumPICA
spellingShingle Ana-Maria Davidoiu
Mugurel Constantin Rusu
Corneliu Toader
Petrinel Mugurel Rădoi
A Prevalence Anatomic-Imaging Study of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery’s Origin
Medicina
cerebellum
vertebral artery
cerebellar artery
foramen magnum
PICA
title A Prevalence Anatomic-Imaging Study of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery’s Origin
title_full A Prevalence Anatomic-Imaging Study of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery’s Origin
title_fullStr A Prevalence Anatomic-Imaging Study of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery’s Origin
title_full_unstemmed A Prevalence Anatomic-Imaging Study of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery’s Origin
title_short A Prevalence Anatomic-Imaging Study of the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery’s Origin
title_sort prevalence anatomic imaging study of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery s origin
topic cerebellum
vertebral artery
cerebellar artery
foramen magnum
PICA
url https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/9/1397
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