Prevalence of Anomalously Originating Occipital Artery in a Group of Turkish Individuals: A Retrospective Study using Angiography

Abstract

AIM: To investigated the prevalence of anomalously originating occipital artery (OA) using angiography in a group of Turkishindividuals.MATERIAL and METHODS: The images recorded in the picture archiving and communication system for a total of 114 patients, inwhich the whole vertebral artery, as well as the external carotid artery (ECA) and its branches, were visualized, were retrospectivelyreviewed. Images were obtained using a Toshiba INFNX-i 8000V (Canon Medical Systems, Otawara, Tochigi, Japan) angiographydevice.RESULTS: We diagnosed 11 cases (12 arteries) with anomalously originating OA, representing a prevalence of 9.64%. In 7 cases,the ascending pharyngeal artery and OA originated with a common root from the ECA (8 arteries); and in 4 patients, OA originatedfrom the distal part of the ECA (C1 vertebral level).CONCLUSION: As for many vascular structures, the prevalence of OA variations may vary according to the population underquestion and the examination method used. Our study has shown that in a sample from the Turkish population, the prevalence ofanomalously originating OA was much higher than that stated in the literature, which used magnetic resonance angiography. Toavoid complications, the high prevalence of this anomaly must be taken into account during surgeries that require the use of OA,endarterectomies, and endovascular interventions.