Penetration of cranial nerves by intracranial arteries and veins: a comprehensive review

Abstract

The relationship between cranial nerves and surrounding blood vessels is important to surgeons who operate in this region and radiologists who interpret cranial imaging. However, only sparse information is available regarding the potential for intracranial vessels to pierce cranial nerves. Therefore, the current comprehensive review was performed. Some reports do exist that describe this variant anatomy. Both veins and arteries have been reported to rarely pierce cranial nerves. Clinicians and surgeons should be aware of this possible derailment of normal anatomy as it could affect their patients or result in symptoms that do not have a precise etiology.