Clinical importance of the occipital artery in vascular lesions: A review of the literature

Abstract

The occipital artery (OA) is a critical artery in vascular lesions. However, a comprehensive review of the importance of the OA is currently lacking. In this study, we used the PubMed database to perform a review of the literature on the OA to increase our understanding of its role in vascular lesions. We also provided our typical cases to illustrate the importance of the OA. The OA has several variations. For example, it may arise from the internal carotid artery or anastomose with the vertebral artery. Therefore, the OA may provide a crucial collateral vascular supply source and should be preserved in these cases. The OA is a good donor artery. Consequently, it is used in extra- to intracranial bypasses for moyamoya disease (MMD) or aneurysms. The OA can be involved in dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) and is a feasible artery for the embolisation of DAVF. True aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms can occur in the OA; surgical resection and embolisation are the effective treatment approaches. Direct high-flow AVF can occur in the OA; embolisation treatment is a good option in such cases. The OA can also be involved in MMD and brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) by forming transdural collaterals. For a patient in the prone position, if occipital and suboccipital craniotomies are performed, the OA can also be used for intraoperative angiography. In brief, the OA is a very important artery in vascular lesions.

Transdural Anastomotic Aneurysm in Association with Moyamoya Disease: A Rare and Troublesome Neurosurgical Entity

“…The most common collateral artery is the MMA, since it only needs to penetrate the dura mater to anastomose with the pial arteries. [16][17][18] Accordingly, in our literature review, the responsible transdural collaterals were from the MMA in 67% of the patients with TAAs. Besides, TAAs were also detected in collaterals from the occipital artery, internal maxillary artery, and branches of the ophthalmic artery.…”

Ear ischemia induced by endovascular therapy for arteriovenous fistula of the sigmoid sinus: A case report

“…The blood supply of a DAVF is mainly from the MMA and meningeal branches of the OA. In addition, the posterior meningeal artery (PMA) and meningo-hypophyseal trunk of the internal carotid artery can also participate in the blood supply in rare cases[ 9 - 11 ]. The PAA, a small branch of the ECA is the major blood supply to the auricle[ 12 ].…”

Atherosclerotic and non-atherosclerotic changes in brachiocephalic arteries as predictors of cerebral and coronary events (literature review)

“…На ЗА вероятно образование истинных аневризм и псевдоаневризм. В то же время, ЗА -хорошая донорская артерия, которая может использоваться при экстра-и интракраниальном шунтировании при БММ или аневризмах [28].…”