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Anomalous meningeal branches of the ophthalmic artery feeding meningiomas of the brain convexity

Branches méningées anormales de l'artère ophtalmique alimentant les méningiomes de la convexité

  • Radiologic Anatomy
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Summary

Many anomalies may involve the ophthalmic and middle meningeal arteries, because of the close relationship of their development. The system of the ophthalmic artery may supply the dural convexity by the middle meningeal artery of ophthalmic origin, the anterior branch of the middle meningeal artery or an accessory meningeal artery. The development and the anatomic arrangement of these anomalous vessels are discussed. Three cases of meningiomas of the brain convexity supplied by anomalous meningeal arteries arising from the ophthalmic artery are described. In one case internal carotid angiography showed an anomalous anterior branch of the middle meningeal artery arising from the ophthalmic artery, whereas the maxillary artery provided only the posterior branch of the middle meningeal artery. In two cases the middle meningeal artery system was normal, but the ophthalmic artery provided an accessory meningeal artery supplying the meningioma. Whereas an ophthalmic origin of the middle meningeal artery is rather common, the angiographic finding of an accessory meningeal artery or an anterior branch of the middle meningeal artery arising from the ophthalmic arterial system is exceptional. The preoperative embolization of dural lesions supplied by anomalous meningeal vessels of ophthalmic origin is dangerous because of the risk of embolization into the ophthalmic circle.

Résumé

Un grand nombre d'anomalies touche les aa. ophtalmique et méningée moyenne en raison de leurs liens embryologiques. Le système de l'a. ophtalmique peut vasculariser la dure-mère de la convexité lorsqu'elle donne naissance à l'a. méningée moyenne ou à sa branche antérieure, ou à l'a. méningée accessoire. Le développement et la disposition anatomique de ces anomalies vasculaires sont discutés. Trois cas de méningiomes de la convexité, alimentés par des aa. méningées provenant de l'a. ophtalmique, sont décrits. Dans un cas, l'opacification de l'a. carotide interne montrait que la branche antérieure de l'a. méningée moyenne provenait de l'a. ophtalmique ; l'a. maxillaire ne donnait alors que sa branche postérieure et l'a. méningée moyenne. Dans deux cas, le système de l'a. méningée moyenne était normal, mais l'a. ophtalmique donnait une a. méningée accessoire vascularisant le méningiome. Alors que l'origine ophtalmique de l'a. méningée moyenne est relativement commune, la naissance à partir de l'a. ophtalmique de l'a. méningée accessoire ou de la branche antérieure de l'a. méningée moyenne est exceptionnellement décrite en angiographie. L'embolisation pré-opératoire des lésions durales alimentées par les vaisseaux méningés anormaux provenant de l'a. ophtalmique est dangereuse en raison des risques oculaires.

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Maiuri, F., Donzelli, R., de Divitiis, O. et al. Anomalous meningeal branches of the ophthalmic artery feeding meningiomas of the brain convexity. Surg Radiol Anat 20, 279–284 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01628491

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01628491

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