Variation of some arteries of the vertebrobasilar system: case report

A specificity of the vertebrobasilar system (VBS) is a convergent junction of paired vertebral arteries (VAs) in the basilar artery (BA) usually at the level of bulbopontine sulcus on the ventral side of the rhombencephalon. We revealed multiple VBS variations (a high junction of both VAs, absence of posterior inferior cerebellar arteries, short and ectatic BA, hypoplasia and initial duplication of the left anterior inferior cerebellar artery, and bilateral common trunks of the posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar arteries) in a 52-year-old male that routinely autopsied at the Institute of Forensic Medicine. Embryological base and morphological status of presented VBS variations is highlighted according to the literature data. Summarized variations of VBS can be classified as morphological rarity, and may be of clinical importance during angiographic studies or neurosurgical procedures.