Identification and Anatomic Description of the Anterior Choroidal Artery by Use of 3D-TOF Source and 3D-CISS MR Imaging
Martin Wiesmanna,
Indra Yousrya,
Klaus C. Seelosa and
Tarek A. Yousrya
a From the Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistr. 15, D-81377 Munich, Germany.
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FIG 1. A–C, Axial MR angiographic source images through the midbrain of a 31-year-old male volunteer obtained using a 3D-TOF sequence (31/7/1) with 0.81 mm between images and displayed from caudal (A) to cranial (C). The AChA can be seen bilaterally. The left AChA (long arrow) is visible from its point of origin from the carotid artery (A) throughout its cisternal segment (A and B) and as it runs along the medial aspect of the uncus and curves laterally along the medial aspect of the temporal lobe (gyrus ambiens) before crossing the cisterna ambiens to enter the choroidal fissure (C). The AChA on the right side (short arrow) is visible at its origin (B) and along its cisternal course (C).
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FIG 2. A and B, Axial MR source images through the midbrain of a 27-year-old male volunteer obtained using the 3D-CISS sequence (12.3/5.9/1) with a distance of 1.32 mm between slices and displayed from caudal (A) to cranial (B). The PComA and AChA can be identified bilaterally. The right AChA (B, straight arrow) is visible where it originates from the posterior wall of the internal carotid artery distal to the origin of the PComA (A, curved arrow). On the left side, the PComA and the cisternal segment of the AChA can be seen (straight arrow, A and B). The AChA is located lateral to the PComA and has a slightly smaller diameter
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FIG 3. A and B, Lateral projections of left internal carotid artery in a 37-year-old male patient with headaches show the AVM supplied by an enlarged left AChA (arrow, A).
C, Axial MR angiographic source image obtained using a 3D-TOF sequence (31/7/1) shows areas of the AVM with high blood flow (curved arrow), the origin of the patient's right AChA (large straight arrow), and enlargement of the left AChA (small straight arrow) that supplies the AVM.
D, Reconstructed MR angiographic image oriented along the axis of the cisternal course of the left AChA shows the entire cisternal course of the left AChA (arrow).
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FIG 4. Schematic drawing of an axial cut through the midbrain. The AChA (4) originates from the internal carotid artery (2), runs toward the medial aspect of the uncus (12), and then curves laterally along the medial aspect of the temporal lobe through the ambient cistern to the choroidal fissure (13). The uncal artery on the left has a common origin with the AChA. 1, optic nerve; 2, internal carotid artery; 3, PComA; 4, AChA; 5, uncal artery; 6, oculomotor nerve; 7, posterior cerebral artery; 8, tip of the basilar artery; 9, mesencephalon; 10, aqueduct of Sylvius; 11, cerebellum; 12, uncus of the temporal lobe; 13, choroidal fissure
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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology