A case of an aberrant internal carotid artery with a persistent stapedial artery: association of hypoplasia of the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery

Abstract

Congenital vascular variants involving the temporal bones are rare. Awareness of these variants is important as they may mimic glomus tumors or complicate middle ear surgery. We present a case of a persistent stapedial artery associated with an aberrant carotid artery in the left temporal bone, which is highlighted in computed tomography imaging findings. We further discuss a possible relationship between hypoplasia of the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery and this congenital variant.