A rare anomaly of the anterior communicating artery complex hidden by a large broad-neck aneurysm and disclosed by three-dimensional rotational angiography

Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2008 Mar;150(3):279-84; discussion 284. doi: 10.1007/s00701-007-1401-0. Epub 2008 Jan 14.

Abstract

Double fenestration of the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) complex associated with an aneurysm is a very rare finding and is usually caused by ACoA duplication and the presence of a median artery of the corpus callosum (MACC). We present a patient in whom double fenestration was not associated with ACoA duplication or even with MACC, representing therefore, a previously unreported anatomic variation. A 43 year old woman experienced sudden headache and the CT scans showed subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). On admission, her clinical condition was consistent with Hunt and Hess grade II. Conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed and revealed multiple intracranial aneurysms arising from both middle cerebral arteries (MCA) and from the ACoA. Three-dimensional rotational angiography (3D-RA) disclosed a double fenestration of the ACoA complex which was missed by DSA. The patient underwent a classic pterional approach in order to achieve occlusion of both left MCA and ACoA aneurysms by surgical clipping. The post-operative period was uneventful. A rare anatomical variation characterised by a double fenestration not associated with ACoA duplication or MACC is described. The DSA images missed the double fenestration which was disclosed by 3D-RA, indicating the importance of 3D-RA in the diagnosis and surgical planning of intracranial aneurysms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Angiography, Digital Subtraction
  • Anterior Cerebral Artery / abnormalities*
  • Anterior Cerebral Artery / diagnostic imaging*
  • Anterior Cerebral Artery / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Angiography / methods*
  • Circle of Willis / abnormalities*
  • Circle of Willis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Circle of Willis / physiopathology
  • Diagnostic Errors / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Headache / etiology
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging*
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / pathology
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / physiopathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / physiopathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed