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Article: Anomalous course of the cervical carotid arteries. (Imaging Clinic).
- Article from:
- Ear, Nose and Throat Journal
- Article date:
- June 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Vendome Group LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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An anomalous course of the carotid arteries in the neck is uncommon. When such an aberration does occur, the proximity of the arteries to the midline of the posterior portion of the pharynx can pose a risk during pharyngeal surgery. The case described here is that of a 26-year-old woman in whom an anomalous course of the carotid arteries in the retropharyngeal area was identified as an incidental finding.
Embryologically, the carotid arteries originate in the third aortic arch and the dorsal aorta. Normally, the dorsal aortic root descends into the chest by the 8th week of development, thereby straightening the course of the internal carotid artery. (1) It has ...