Incidental Findings of Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery on 3-Dimensional Time-of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography at 3.0 T: An Analysis of 25 Cases

Abstract

A 3D-TOF MRA at 3.0 T can be used for the detection of PPTA and making a classification of PPTA indirectly. The incidence of PPTA with type III was greater than that of other types of PPTA. Intracranial aneurysm appeared to be associated with PPTA.

Anatomical features and clinical relevance of a persistent trigeminal artery

“…found, in patients with PTA, a prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in 16% using MRA. [10] On the contrary, Cloft et al . and O'uchi and O'uchi, in their respective studies have established a prevalence of aneurysms in this group between 3% and 4.2%, which is very similar to the general population.…”

“…[34] However, the cases of type I PTA, which makes up 24% of all cases, supplying both posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar arteries associated with hypoplasia or absence of PcomA indicates a relationship between the development of PTA and PcomA. [10]…”

“…who used similar methodology (0.51%). [1055] O'uchi and O'uchi also performed MRA using 1.5 and 1.0 Tesla systems in 16,415 patients. In this large series, 48 cases of PTA (0.29%) and 50 cases of PTA variant (0.34%) were identified.…”

“…[41] Therefore, according to the Saltzman classification system, the frequency of a type I PTA is 24%, type II, 16%, and type III 60%. [10]…”

Persistent Fetal Intracranial Arteries

“…Davis et al (1956) first reported an aneurysm of the persistent trigeminal artery. Others have reported that approximately 13.8-27.8% of patients with persistent trigeminal artery also have intracranial aneurysms (Chen et al 2010), 2% arising from the persistent primitive trigeminal artery itself (Vasovic et al 2012).…”