Ascending pharyngeal artery arising from a hypoplastic internal carotid artery

Abstract

Normal vascular variants often have clinical/surgical significance and can be misinterpreted for pathology. We report a case ascending pharyngeal artery arising from a hypoplastic internal carotid artery. We provide clues to differentiate between dysgenesis and disease/thrombosis of the internal carotid artery.

Keywords

• carotid canal
• dysgenesis of internal carotid artery
• hypopharyngeal artery
• vascular variants