Hyperform Remodeling Balloon for the Balloon Occlusion Test of Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery Aneurysm-Case Report-

PulseRider-assisted coil embolization for an unruptured internal carotid artery-persistent primitive trigeminal artery aneurysm

A persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA) is a vessel remnant of carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomosis. The aneurysm at the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and PPTA tends to have a broad neck with the branch incorporated into the sac. Because PPTA supplies to the posterior circulation and branches off direct pontine perforators, PPTA preservation should always be considered when treating PPTA aneurysms to avoid ischemic complications.We report a case of the wide-neck ICA-PPTA aneurysm successfully treated with the PulseRider-assisted coil embolization, resulting in complete occlusion with PPTA patency. Relevant anatomy and endovascular strategy of the PPTA aneurysms are discussed.

Management paradigms of persistent primitive trigeminal artery aneurysms: A systematic review and analysis of techniques and complications from 1960s to 2022: From conservative to surgical to endovascular, how far along the right path are we?

INTRODUCTION

Aneurysms of persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTAAs) are increasingly reported and commonly managed by endovascular (EN) techniques. There are no systematic reviews or meta-analyses which analyse outcomes and complications of treatment modalities for PPTAAs. We aim to highlight the change in trend of management of PPTAAs and to identify clinical and radiological parameters which may influence management paradigms.

METHODOLOGY

A systematic search of literature was done in PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane library and Medline using keywords 'persistent primitive trigeminal artery', 'aneurysms', 'embolization', 'surgical clipping', etc. Only cases reporting aneurysms of PPTA were included. Three subgroups, such as conservative, open surgical (OS) and EN interventional, were studied for outcome evaluation. In the EN subgroup, relation of clinical and radiological parameters with outcome (complete/partial occlusion) was analysed using Microsoft Excel Data Analysis ToolPak.

RESULTS

Of the 101 articles found eligible for assessment, 54 were analysed quantitatively. Mortality in the conservative group was 12.5% and OS group was 9.09%. After EN treatment, complete angiographic occlusion was seen in 88.89% PPTAAs and 5.5% warranted retreatment. In the EN subgroup, location (p=0.17), shape (p=0.69), Saltzman circulation (p=0.26) or status of rupture (p=0.08) did not significantly impact angiographic occlusion outcome. Multivariate regression analysis showed 6.6% influence of independent variables, that is, age, gender, aneurysm location, side, shape (saccular/fusiform), rupture status and type of Saltzman circulation on aneurysm occlusion outcome [F(7,27) =1.34] (p=0.27). Total mortality reported in the EN group was 8.57%.

CONCLUSION

Clinical or radiological parameters do not influence angiographic occlusion outcome. Although EN techniques are successful, meticulous reporting of outcomes and complications is important.

Clinical Importance of the Persistent Primitive Trigeminal Artery in Vascular Lesions and Its Role in Endovascular Treatment

The persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA) extends from the internal carotid artery to the basilar artery between the origins of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery and superior cerebellar artery. PPTAs have complex anatomical characteristics. Salas and Saltzman classifications are most often used in PPTAs. The PPTA can play many roles in vascular lesions, including intracranial aneurysms, brain arteriovenous malformations, trigeminal artery-cavernous fistulas, Moyamoya disease, and large vessel occlusion. For these lesions, surgical treatment is difficult due to the deep location and complex anatomy of the PPTA, but endovascular treatment (EVT) has emerged as a good alternative. Currently, a complete review of the clinical importance of the PPTA in terms of its role in the development and EVT of vascular lesions is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a PubMed search, performed a review of the relevant extracted literature and cataloged our experience with PPTAs. By review, we found that a thorough understanding of the anatomical and angiographic features of this PPTA is of utmost importance when making therapeutic decisions for any of these pathological conditions.

Persistent trigeminal artery aneurysms: case report and systematic review

Background

The persistent trigeminal artery (PTA) is an adult carotid-basilar anastomosis with debated pathologic aspects, such as its association with brain aneurysms. True trigeminal artery aneurysms are rare vascular anomalies, reported in a few case reports.

Objective

To report our experience with a ruptured trigeminal artery aneurysm and to provide a systematic review of the literature in order to analyse potential links between the anatomic configuration of the PTA and PTA aneurysm (PTAA) type, and implications of each PTAA type for the diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Methods

We reviewed the medical literature on trigeminal artery aneurysms according to the PRISMA guidelines. Population characteristics, aneurysms features, and PTA type and side were assessed.

Results

40 previously published cases of PTAAs were included in the analysis. The mean age of subjects was 55 years, with a strong female predominance (77%). Four PTAAs were accidentally discovered, while 16 caused compressive symptoms and 20 were ruptured. Successful endovascular treatment was performed in 62% of cases.

Conclusions

PTAAs are rare vascular anomalies, underdiagnosed in the presence of a trigemino-cavernous fistula. Parent vessel occlusion seems to be the best therapeutic option for ruptured or symptomatic unruptured PTAAs in Saltzman type II and III PTAs. Patency of the parent vessel is the main target in Saltzman type I PTA.

Endovascular treatment for unruptured aneurysm associated with persistent primitive trigeminal artery: a case report and literature review

The persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PPTA) is the most common carotid-basilar anastomosis, and the incidence of cerebral aneurysms associated with the PPTA is approximately 4%. Since PPTA aneurysms often have a wide neck and other vascular anomalies, endovascular treatment using an adjunctive technique is the current first-line therapy. Here, we report a case of PPTA aneurysm treated by coil embolization with a stent-assisted technique. A detailed evaluation of the size and course of all vessels and collateral flow, including the Allcock test and balloon test occlusion, is necessary when deciding on the treatment strategy.

Dual Stent-Assisted Coil Embolization for Fusiform Aneurysm Arising From Persistent Trigeminal Artery

Aneurysms of the persistent trigeminal artery (PTA) trunk are exceptionally rare and have a high risk for rupture. Dual stent placement through each internal carotid and basilar artery for endovascular coil embolization of a fusiform aneurysm arising from the PTA has not been described in the literature. A 44-year-old female with a history of chronic headache was identified to have a fusiform aneurysm arising from medially coursing adult type, Saltzman type 3 PTA trunk. Sacrifice of the PTA trunk inclusive of the aneurysm was performed with dual stent placement through each basilar and internal carotid artery across their respective junctions with the PTA. Six-month follow-up angiography showed complete occlusion of the PTA and the aneurysm. The patient's symptoms resolved. Our case demonstrated that the sacrifice of an adult type, Saltzman type 3 PTA inclusive of an associated fusiform aneurysm is feasible with dual stent-assisted coil embolization.

Extracranial Segments of the Vertebral Artery: Insight in the Developmental Changes up to the 21st Year of Life

The vertebral artery (VA) bilaterally arises usually from the subclavian artery and courses within the bony canals of cervical vertebrae, and then it reverses directions on the first vertebra before piercing the dura to enter the cranium.The aim was to follow (ab)normal developmental changes of extracranial VA from prenatal status to age 21. This chapter included a brief description of the arterial embryology and morphofunctional specificity of the VA in prevertebral, cervical, and atlantic parts, during prenatal and postnatal period.The authors concluded that the subclavian origin of the VA was in most of fetal and adult cases. The incidences of variable VA origins and domination of one of the VAs were different from one series of human specimens to the second one. Although in most of cases, anomalous origin and/or variable course of the extracranial VA had little or did not result in clinical symptoms in infants and young adults, the true value of their discovery is in the diagnostic gain before vascular surgery of supra-aortic arteries.

Trigeminal artery: a review of normal and pathological features

OBJECTS

Carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses-the trigeminal, otic, hypoglossal, and proatlantal intersegmental arteries-serve as transitory channels between primitive internal carotid arteries and bilateral longitudinal neural arterial plexus, which is the precursor of future basilar artery, when the human embryo reaches about 4-mm length.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Normal and/or abnormal morphofunctional aspects of the prenatal and postnatal forms of the trigeminal artery are described according to personal and literature data. Many arteries of similar origin and course are also noted in the differential diagnosis of the trigeminal artery.

CONCLUSIONS

The persistent primitive trigeminal artery, as the most commonly carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomosis, has a reported incidence of 0.03-2.2% in the literature. There is female sex predilection, and it may be discovered in patients of any age, on either side, and in association with many vascular variants. Although the significance of persistent primitive trigeminal artery regarding the development of an aneurysm or association with another pathological condition may not be clear, its (ab)normal morphology is the inspiration for anatomists, especially for neurosurgeons, before planning diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Basilar artery aneurysm at a persistent trigeminal artery junction. A case report and literature review

The trigeminal artery is an anastomosis between the embryonic precursors of the vertebrobasilar and carotid systems, and may persist into adult life. The association of the persistent primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) with cerebral aneurysm is well documented in the literature and, in general, aneurysms are located in the anterior circulation. We describe a patient who presented with a panencephalic Fisher III subarachnoid hemorrhage due to rupture of an intracranial aneurysm. Digital arteriography showed a saccular aneurysm in the middle third of the basilar artery, adjacent to the junction with a persistent trigeminal artery. She was submitted to endovascular treatment with embolization of the basilar artery aneurysm with coils. Aneurysms at the PTA junction with the basilar artery are rare. This paper describes a case of PTA associated with an aneurysm in the basilar artery at PTA junction and briefly reviews the literature.

Persistent primitive olfactory artery aneurysm

A hypertensive 69-year-old man presented with an incidentally discovered non-ruptured aneurysm of the persistent primitive olfactory artery (POA). The POA originates at the terminal portion of the internal carotid artery, runs along the olfactory tract anteriorly toward the crista galli, and forms an acute angle with the distal anterior cerebral artery. The aneurysm was located at this characteristic acute angle. The persistent POA aneurysm associated with an anterior communicating artery aneurysm with wide neck was successfully treated by clipping surgery.