RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Nonbifurcating Cervical Carotid Artery Diagnosed by MR Angiography JF American Journal of Neuroradiology JO Am. J. Neuroradiol. FD American Society of Neuroradiology DO 10.3174/ajnr.A2462 A1 A. Uchino A1 N. Saito A1 T. Watadani A1 W. Mizukoshi A1 R. Nakajima YR 2011 UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2011/05/26/ajnr.A2462.abstract AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A nonbifurcating cervical carotid artery is a branching anomaly in which the ECA has no proximal main trunk. We report its incidence and characteristic features on MRA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed MRAs of 2866 patients obtained by using a standard noncontrast MRA protocol and two 1.5T MR imaging units and reviewed the English language literature to assess the occurrence and features of this nonbifurcating artery. RESULTS: We diagnosed 6 cases, indicating an incidence of 0.21%, and found 11 cases reported in the literature. Analysis of all 17 cases demonstrated no laterality or sex predominance. The most prevalent pattern of branching order from proximal to distal was the F-L trunk, the distal trunk of the ECA, and the OA. CONCLUSIONS: A nonbifurcating cervical carotid artery is rare but not as extremely rare as previously considered, and its correct diagnosis is necessary to avoid complications during interventional radiologic procedures or head and neck surgeries.