Imaging features of internal maxillary artery and extracranial middle meningeal artery and their relationships on head CTA

Abstract

Background The internal maxillary artery and extracranial middle meningeal artery are vitally important. Anatomical studies of the relationship of between them using computed tomography angiography are rare. Material and methods This study assessed 75 cases involving 150 sides. And the vascular diameters and lengths of the internal maxillary artery and middle meningeal artery were measured using a GE workstation. The distance between the zygomatic arch midpoint and the internal maxillary artery, the angle between the internal maxillary artery and middle meningeal artery were measured, and the middle meningeal artery branch and internal maxillary artery aneurysm were recorded. The internal maxillary artery course classifications were recorded. All of these parameters were statistically analysed. Results Ages ranged from 18 to 72 (average 40.2) years, and there were 30 women (40%, 30/75) and 45 men (60%, 45/75). Internal maxillary artery length from its origin to middle meningeal artery origin was 1.37 ± 0.59 cm. The extracranial middle meningeal artery length was 1.79 ± 0.48 cm. The vessel diameters of internal maxillary artery origin, middle meningeal artery origin, and middle meningeal artery at the skull base were 2.93 ± 0.52 mm, 1.58 ± 0.43 mm, and 1.33 ± 0.43 mm, respectively. Among the 150 sides of internal maxillary artery course type, there were 138 superficial (92%, 138/150) and 12 (8%, 12/150) deep course cases. The angle between the internal maxillary artery and middle meningeal artery was 116.2 ± 35.76°. Conclusions The findings of this study elucidate the imaging features of the internal maxillary artery and extracranial middle meningeal artery and their relationships, which are helpful for the extracranial–intracranial bypass and endovascular treatment via the internal maxillary artery and middle meningeal artery.

Effect of moyamoya disease on the basilar artery and adjacent arteries on CTA

“…Clarifying the remodeling of the posterior circulation is important because this knowledge can help neurosurgeons and neurointerventionists facilitate operations such as extracranial-intracranial revascularization and endovascular treatment for intracranial ischemic or hemorrhagic vascular diseases ( [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] ). Morphological remodeling of the BA and its adjacent arteries in MMD patients has rarely been studied using computed tomographic angiography (CTA) ( 1 , 10 , 11 ). Therefore, we performed a study using head CTA.…”

Anatomical features of the occipital artery on CTA and differences between patients with/without stenosis and occlusion of the internal carotid artery

“…Previous studies on the OA have been mostly based on cadavers and catheter-based angiography procedures ( 3-5 ). Studies using computed tomography angiography (CTA) are rarely reported ( 6 , 7 ). Therefore, the present study was performed to examine the anatomy of the OA using CTA.…”