ABSTRACT
The emphasis of this chapter is on the anatomy and anatomic variations of the vasculature of the head and neck beginning in the thorax at the level of the aortic arch and extending superiorly to the level of the skull base (vascular entrance through the dura). Selective catheterization is predicated on familiarity with these anatomic features. Cross-sectional (vascular) imaging, including CTA and MRA, has supplanted catheter studies for the purposes of pure anatomic diagnosis. Identification of the common and uncommon variations and their adjacent soft tissue relationships is important to the neurointerventionalist when assessing the cross-sectional imaging prior to therapeutic intervention. The anatomy of this region will be explored using a combination of CTA, MRA, and conventional angiographic images and case examples to demonstrate features important to the neurointerventionalist (1).
