Dangerous Extracranial–Intracranial Anastomoses

S. Geibprasert, S. Pongpech, D. Armstrong and T. Krings

SUMMARY: Transarterial embolization in the external carotid artery (ECA) territory has a major role in the endovascular management of epistaxis, skull base tumors, and dural arteriovenous fistulas. Knowledge of the potential anastomotic routes, identification of the cranial nerve supply from the ECA, and the proper choice of embolic material are crucial to help the interventionalist avoid neurologic complications during the procedure. Three regionsalong the skull base constitute potential anastomotic routes between the extracranial and intracranial arteries: the orbital, the petrocavernous, and the upper cervical regions. Branches of the internal maxillary artery have anastomoses with the ophthalmic artery and petrocavernous internal carotid artery (ICA), whereas the branches of the ascending pharyngeal artery are connected to the petrocavernous ICA. Branches of both the ascending pharyngeal artery and the occipital artery have anastomoses with the vertebral artery. To avoid cranial nerve palsy, one must have knowledge of the supply to the lower cranial nerves: The petrous branch of the middle meningeal artery and the stylomastoid branch of the posterior auricular artery form the facial arcade as the major supply to the facial nerve, and the neuromeningeal trunk of the ascending pharyngeal artery supplies the lower cranial nerves (CN IX–XII).

In the last 20 years, the role of embolization of the external carotid artery (ECA) territory has become increasingly more important, mainly for transarterial endovascular treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulas,^1,2 treatment of epistaxis, and preoperative embolization of head and neck tumors to decrease surgical blood loss.^3–6 However, because embryologic and phylogenetic development closely links the ECAs to the intracranial arteries, there are certain common anastomotic routes that have to be kept in mind while doing the embolization procedures to avoid possible major complications such as embolic stroke or cranial nerve palsies.⁷ Most of these anastomotic channels followthe cranial nerves along the neural foramen. Although they may not be visualized on routine (ie, global) catheter angiographies, they are always present and will therefore necessarily open under the following circumstances: 1) with increased intra-arterial pressure (eg, during embolization procedures or superselective injections⁸), 2) in the presence of high-flow shunts as a consequence of the "sump effect," or 3) as collateral routes when occlusions of the major intracranial arteries occur.^9–12

The functional vascular anatomy concept, as introduced by Lasjaunias et al⁷ and Berenstein et al in 1983,¹³ analyzes the arterial anatomy of the head and neck by their territories, which include the internal maxillary, linguofacial, pharyngo-occipital, thyroidal, cervical, internal carotid, and vertebral territories. The adjacent territories have inter-relationships and will function as potential vascular collaterals in case of vascular occlusion. There are 3 regions within these territories (Fig 1) that serve as the major extracranial–intracranial anastomotic pathways:

1) The orbital region via the ophthalmic artery that is the interface between the internal maxillary and internal carotid territories.

2) The petrous-cavernous region via the inferolateral trunk (ILT), the petrous branches of the internal carotid artery (ICA), and the meningohypophyseal trunk to the carotid artery.

3) The upper cervical region via the ascending pharyngeal, the occipital, and the ascending and deep cervical arteries to the vertebral artery.

The major extracranial and intracranial anastomoses are summarized in Table 1.

Orbital Region (anastomoses to the ophthalmic artery)

The most important risk when embolizing within this region is occlusion of the central retinal artery, which results in blindness of the patient. Infrequently, embolic stroke can also occur through retrograde filling of the ICA. Because the central retinal artery typically originates with or close to the posterior ciliary arteries (either the medial or lateral branches) from the ophthalmic artery,⁷ the choroidal blush, best seen on the lateral angiographic view in the capillary and early venous phases, is often used as a landmark to identify its origin. The anastomoses between the ECA and ophthalmic artery are summarized in Table 2.

Proximal Internal Maxillary Collaterals

There are several potential orbital collateral routes from the ECA to the ophthalmic artery. The most frequently encountered is the meningo-ophthalmic artery (Fig 2).¹⁴ This artery is the extreme variation in which the remnant of the embryologic stapedial artery (ie, the middle meningeal artery [MMA] and the distal internal maxillary artery [IMA]) takes over the entire orbital supply from the primitive ophthalmic artery.⁷ This results in supply to the distal ophthalmic artery, including the central retinal artery and ciliary arteries only from the MMA as the remnant of the stapedial system. The important clues that suggest this variation are nonvisualization of the ophthalmic arteryfrom the ICA and a choroidal blush on the ECA injection (Fig 2A, -B). In this setting, even proximal occlusion of the MMA carries a high risk because the MMA is the sole supply to the distal ophthalmic artery and must be avoided.

The stapedial artery originally arises from the ICA and is later annexed by the ECA and, therefore, will constitute a potential anastomotic route to the orbit. These other MMA collaterals to the ophthalmic artery are through the superficial recurrent meningeal branch of the lacrimal artery, which anastomose with the orbital branches through the superior orbital fissure¹⁵ and the anterior falcine artery, a meningeal branch arising from the distal ophthalmic artery supplying the anterior falx, anastomosing indirectly with the anterior branch of the MMA through the meninges.⁷ The orbital branches can be best seen on the lateral projection, typically just inferior to the sphenoid ridge (Fig 2C), similar to the location of the meningo-ophthalmic artery origin. These above-mentioned anastomoses are always present (except for cases with a meningo-ophthalmic artery). However, they are usually not visualized on global injections and only open with increased pressure during embolization procedures of the MMA.

Distal IMA Collaterals

The distal IMA has anastomoses with the inferior branch of the lacrimal artery of the ophthalmic artery through the anterior deep temporal artery (Fig 3) and through the infraorbital artery.^7,14,15 The sphenopalatine artery, also from the distal IMA, is connected with the anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries of the ophthalmic artery through the septal arteries, which are classically seen in large juvenile angiofibromas.¹⁶ The sphenopalatine artery is one of the targets in the embolization of epistaxis; therefore, these anastomoses have to be kept in mind. Because their diameter is <80 µm, embolization of the branches with particles greater than this size is considered safe.

Cutaneous Collaterals

The frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery (STA) connects with the ophthalmic artery through the supraorbital artery. The distal end of the facial artery (FA) anastomoses with the dorsal nasal artery at the angular termination.^7,17 Both the FA and the STA branches thereby classically connect to the distal (third) portion of the ophthalmic artery.

Cavernous-Petrous Region (anastomoses to the ICA)

Within this region, there are 3 major anastomotic areas to the ICA: the petrous, the clivus, and the cavernous territories. The corresponding branches of the ICA are the mandibular artery (remnant of the dorsal part of the first aortic arch) and the caroticotympanic artery (remnant of the embryologic hyoid artery) for the petrous territory, the meningohypophyseal trunk (remnant of the embryologic primitive maxillary artery) and the lateral clival artery for the clival territory, and the ILT (remnant of the embryologic dorsal ophthalmic artery) for the cavernous region.^7,18,19 The major anastomotic routes to the ILT are summarized in Table 3.

Ascending Pharyngeal Collaterals

The ascending pharyngeal artery is the remnant of the embryologic artery of the third brachial arch and divides into 2 major trunks: the pharyngeal and neuromeningeal trunks, which connect to the petrous and cavernous ICA through several channels.^20,21 The anteriorly located pharyngeal trunk gives off 3 branches: the inferior, middle, and superior pharyngeal arteries. The latter has the most important anastomotic routes, including the eustachiantube anastomotic circle that connects with the mandibular artery from the petrous ICA and an anastomosis with the accessory meningeal artery (AMA) and pterygovaginal artery from the distal IMA (Fig 4). Finally, this artery has a carotid canal branch that enters the cranium through the foramen lacerum to the cavernous sinus to join with the recurrent artery of the foramen lacerum, (branch of the lateral clival artery, which arises from the C5 portion of the carotid siphon) and the ILT (which connects to the cavernous ICA). The distal neuromeningeal trunk branches into 2 major arteries, the jugular and hypoglossal branches, and enters the cranial cavity through the corresponding foramen.^7,20,21 Both branches give off medial and lateral clival branches immediately after exiting the hypoglossal and jugular foramen, respectively. These anastomose with the clival branches from the lateral clivalartery (Fig 5) and the meningohypophyseal trunk, which can often be seen as participating arteries in the supply to meningiomas that develop in this region (Fig 6). The inferior tympanic artery, which may arise from the main trunk of the ascending pharyngeal artery or one of its major branches, enters the tympanic cavity through the inferior tympanic foramen with Jacobson's nerve and retains the embryologic connection of the artery of the third brachial arch (ascending pharyngeal artery) and the hyoid artery (or caroticotympanic artery) from the petrous ICA. Within the middle ear, the inferior tympanic artery also anastomoses with the superior tympanic artery, which arises from the petrous branch of the MMA, the anterior tympanic artery from the proximal IMA, the stylomastoid artery from the posterior auricular-occipital artery, and the mandibular branch of the ICA.^7,19

Typically these anastomoses are not visualized on the cerebral angiograms but may open up during embolization. In some rare cases, agenesis of the cervical ICA and persistence of the embryologic hyostapedial artery will result in the so-called "aberrant ICA," in which the ICA enters the skull base through the inferior tympanic canal, and the cervical part of the ICA is actually the ascending pharyngeal artery.^7,22,23

Proximal IMA Collaterals

The major anastomotic route for the MMA and AMA is through the ILT to the cavernous ICA.^18,19,24 After exiting the foramen spinosum, the MMA gives off cavernous branches that anastomose with the superior or tentorial branch of the ILT. The orbital branches of the MMA, besides their connection to the ophthalmic artery, also anastomose with the anteromedial branch of the ILT within the superior orbital fissure. The superior division of the AMA enters the cavernous sinus through the foramen ovale to anastomose with the posteromedial branch of the ILT (Figs 7 and 8), which courses under the trigeminal ganglion and accompanies CN V2.²⁵ In 20% of cases, the AMA may take over the entire supply of the ILT territory.⁷ These cavernous collaterals are often enlarged and serve as the arterial feeders in cavernous dural arteriovenous fistulas (Fig 7).

The petrosquamous or the posterior branch of the MMA also anastomoses with the marginal artery of the tentorium, which can arise from either the ILT, the ophthalmic artery, or the meningohypophyseal trunk of the ICA.⁷ Apart from the cavernous anastomosis, the AMA also has smaller anastomotic channels surrounding the eustachian tube, as mentioned previously, with the superior pharyngeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery, the mandibular branch of the petrous ICA, and the pterygovaginal artery from the distal IMA.

Distal IMA Collaterals

There are several branches of the distal IMA that have intracranial anastomoses with the ICA. The first is the artery of the foramen rotundum, which, as implied by its name, runs through the foramen rotundum and is best seen in the lateral view, where it can be identified with its corkscrew appearance, connecting with the anterolateral branch of the ILT (Fig 8)^18,19 or, in rare cases, with the lateral clival artery (Fig 7C). The vidian artery has a distinctly horizontal course, which can be easily identified on the lateral view from the distal IMA through the vidian canal to the foramen lacerum, where it anastomoses with the corresponding vidian branch of the mandibular artery arising from the petrous ICA (Figs 8 and 9).^12,26–29 The pterygovaginal artery, which often originates adjacent to the vidian artery, has a more inferior course through the pterygovaginal canal along the roof of the nasopharynx, ending at the anastomotic circle around the eustachian tube.⁷

Upper Cervical Regions (anastomoses to the vertebral artery)

Occipital Collaterals

The occipital artery is a remnant of the embryologic type I and type II proatlantal arteries, which correspond to the C1 and C2 segmental arteries.^7,30 In the fetal period, both embryologic arteries serve as connection routes between the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems. Full persistence of these segmental arteries is extremely rare^31,32; however, the occipital artery, as their remnant, still retains its connection from the external carotid system to the vertebral artery through the posterior anastomotic radicular branches, which arise from the horizontal portion of the occipital arteries at both the C1 and C2 levels (Figs 10 and 11). These are the major collaterals from the vertebral artery to the carotid system, which are often seen in case of common carotid artery ligation or occlusion.^10,33–35 The stylomastoid artery, which may arise from either the posterior auricular or the occipital artery, supplies the meninges of the posterior fossa and forms anastomoses with other meningeal branches from the MMA, the ascending pharyngeal artery, the ILT, the meningohypophyseal trunk, and the posterior meningeal artery from the vertebral artery.⁷

Ascending Pharyngeal Collaterals

As a remnant of the embryologic hypoglossal artery, the ascending pharyngeal artery keeps its connection with the vertebral artery through 2 proximal branches.^7,36,37 The lowest, usually the most proximal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery, is the musculospinal branch, which anastomoses laterally with the C3 radicular anastomotic artery of the vertebral artery (Fig 12). The second is the prevertebral branch, located on the ventral surface of the C1–C2 vertebrae and anastomoses with the odontoid arch.^38,39 This branch typically arises from the neuromeningeal trunk but may also arise directly from the main ascending pharyngeal artery. It has a characteristic U-shaped curve, seen on the lateral view before anastomosing medially on the surface of the dens with the C3 collaterals from the vertebral artery (Figs 12 and 13).

Cervical Collaterals

The ascending cervical artery and the deep cervical artery are the major anastomotic channels of the vertebral artery at the C2–C4 levels (Fig 14).^7,40,41 Both arise from the subclavian arteries. More specifically, the ascending cervical artery typically originates from the thyrocervical trunk, whereas the deep cervical artery arises from the costocervical trunk. Several case reports have described anastomoses between the vertebral artery and these cervical arteries, including the aberrant origin of the vertebral artery from the thyrocervical trunk,⁴⁰ and the use of these anastomotic channels for thrombolysis of basilar artery thrombosis in a case with proximal vertebral artery occlusion.⁴¹

Cranial Nerve Supply

The arterial supply of all cranial nerves is summarized in Table 4.^7,42–45 The most important ECA supplies to the cranial nerves are the supplies to CN VII (facial nerve) and the lower cranial nerves (IX–;XII). Supply of the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve is through the facial arcade, which, in most of the cases, consists of the petrous branch of the MMA and the stylomastoid branch of the posterior auricular artery (Fig 15). The stylomastoid branch can also arise from a common trunk of the posterior auricular and occipital arteries, a variation seen in 50% of patients. Although the cisternal portions of the lower cranial nerves are supplied from the ipsilateral vertebralarteries, the supply to their foraminal parts is mainly through the neuromeningeal trunk of the ascending pharyngeal artery, which divides into 2 branches before entering the cranial cavity. The jugular branch contributes supply to CN IX and X as it traverses the jugular foramen, and the hypoglossal branch supplies CN XII within the hypoglossal canal. The supply of CN XI (accessory spinal nerve), however, is from the musculospinal branch, which arises from the neuromeningeal trunk before entering the foramen magnum and is proximal to the odontoid arch. Proximal embolization of these branches with particles can result in cranial nerve palsies, which are temporary and can recover following steroid therapy and with development of collaterals.

On the other hand, distal embolization with either particles that are smaller than 80 µm or liquid materials will lead to permanent cranial nerve palsy or can even open connections with the intracranial contributions, (ie, the vertebral artery in case of the lower cranial nerves via the above-mentioned ascending pharyngeal artery anastomoses) and then result in embolic stroke of the posterior fossa.

Embolic Materials

Particles and liquid embolic materials are the 2 most commonly used embolization materials in the ECA system. Although the penetration capacity of particles (the most commonly used are Gelfoam sponge and Gelfoam powder [Gelfoam; Upjohn, Kalamazoo, Mich], and polyvinyl alcohol particles) is dependent on the size, liquid embolic materials such as glue (n-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate) and Onyx (ev3, Irvine, Calif) can open and enter small anastomoticchannels that are not visualized on the initial angiograms and, therefore, should be used with increased caution.^46,47 In general, the size of the nonvisualized anastomotic arteries ranges from 50 to 80 µm; therefore, particles that are >150 µm will not penetrate these anastomoses and will avoid potential embolic complications. The visualization of an anastomotic channel is not a contraindication for embolization of the particular artery. There are several techniques that can be used to prevent embolic material from entering the collaterals, including simple proximal mechanical blockage of the collateral branch with large particles or coils before the embolization, or flow-reversalmethods using a proximal balloon occlusion in the target ECA vessel, which leads to flow redirection from the ICA to the ECA territory.⁴⁷

Conclusions

Transarterial embolization of the ECA and cervical arteries has become an established technique in the treatment of tumors and arteriovenous shunts of the head and neck region. Due to its embryologic relationship with the intracranial circulation, various anastomotic channels exist between the 2 systems, though they may not be visualized on angiography. Knowledge of these potential anastomotic routes and the proper choice of embolic material are crucial to help the interventionalist avoid embolic complications to the brain and cranial nerves during the procedure.

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