Background: The atypical course of cervical arteries can be reason for vascular complications including stroke and persistent neurological deficits in surgery in the cervical region.
Methods: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging including angiographic procedures such as contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography are suitable to detect atypical course of cervical arteries.
Results: The two cases demonstrate rare variants of atypical course of cervical arteries detected by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging including contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography. The knowledge of these variants is important for planning of surgical intervention.
Conclusions: Modern imaging techniques such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging including contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography should be used for detection of suspected variants in the course of cervical arteries. The relevant structures and the abnormalities can be clearly defined.