Bilateral Duplication of the Cervical Internal Carotid Artery Bilateral Duplication of the Cervical Internal Carotid Artery

Abstract

Duplicated cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) is a very rare variant. The frequency is unknown and there are few reports so far. We report a case of bilateral duplicated ICA pointed out incidentally. The ICA is embryologically divided into segments by primitive blood vessels, and partial regression or agenesis in these segment results in variant of ICA that use alternative blood vessels. The duplicated ICA is likely to occur distal portion of cervical ICA and reaches inside of the carotid canal. The carotid branch of the pharyngeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery runs around the ICA and anastomoses with the artery of foramen lacerum of ICA in the carotid canal. The duplicated ICA may be embryologically involved in the carotid branch of ascending pharyngeal artery.