[Angiographic analysis of variations and anomalous origin of the anterior choroidal artery and posterior communicating artery].

OBJECT: The anterior choroidal artery (AchoA) is a very important artery for neurosurgeons and neuroendovascular surgeons. In fact the AchoA not only supplies the ventricles but also has important branches to the diencephalon, mesencephalon and cerebrum and also supplies motor and visual pathways. Review of the cerebrovascular embryology explains this variability in the anatomy of the developing AchoA and posterior communicating artery (PcomA)- posterior cerebral artery (PCA) distributions. CASE 1: A 47-year-old woman, with an unruptured left internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm. For the cerebral arterial aneurysm approximately 7 mm in size, we performed coil embolization with an assist balloon under general anaesthesia. CASE 2: A 63-year-old woman, with an unruptured right ICA aneurysm. Endeavouring to preserve the branch vessels, we undertook a craniotomy neck clipping operation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It is thought that, usually, AchoA has its origin at the supraclinoid ICA distal to the PcomA. Our analysis of these two cases may be helpful for a better understanding of the vascular relations and anatomy of the AchoA and PcomA-PCA distributions. We emphasize the importance of recognizing such anomalies in planning surgical and interventional treatment.