The perforating branches of the middle cerebral artery

1985 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Umansky ◽  
Francisco B. Gomes ◽  
Manuel Dujovny ◽  
Fernando G. Diaz ◽  
James I. Ausman ◽  
...  

✓ The perforating branches (PFB's) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were studied in 34 unfixed brain hemispheres which were injected with a polyester resin and dissected under the operating microscope. Five hundred and eight vessels were identified and their site of origin, branching pattern, outer diameter (OD), and length recorded. Four hundred and two PFB's (79%) originated from the main trunk of the MCA before its division; the remaining 106 vessels (21%) had their origin from branches of the MCA as follows: superior trunk, 43 vessels (8.5%); inferior trunk, 30 vessels (6%); middle trunk, four vessels (0.8%); early temporal branch, 27 vessels (5.3%); and early frontal branch, two vessels (0.4%). The number of PFB's in each hemisphere varied from five to 29 (mean 14.9 ± 0.7 vessels). The great majority of PFB's (96%) originated along the proximal 17 mm of the MCA. The PFB's arising in the first 10 mm had a mean OD of 0.35 ± 0.01 mm and a mean length of 9.25 ± 0.19 mm, and those arising from the second 10 mm had a mean OD of 0.47 ± 0.02 mm and a mean length of 16.67 ± 1.4 mm. A clear distinction between a medial and lateral group of PFB's was present in only 14 hemispheres (41%). In nine hemispheres (26%), perforating vessels from the anterior cerebral artery (A1 segment) and from the recurrent artery of Heubner replaced the medial group of PFB's of the MCA. In one case this group originated in an accessory MCA. In three hemispheres (9%) a small anastomosis (OD 0.2 mm) was seen between a PFB of the recurrent artery of Heubner and one of the MCA. From a total of 508 PFB's, 255 vessels (50%) originated as single vessels, while 253 vessels (50%) originated as branches of common stems. The OD of the single vessels ranged from 0.1 mm to 1.1 mm (mean 0.39 ± 0.02 mm), and the length from 3 to 20 mm (mean 10.8 ± 0.2 mm). The common stems ranged in OD from 0.6 to 1.8 mm (mean 0.87 ± 0.04 mm), and in length from 1 to 15 mm (mean 4.1 ± 0.4 mm). The clinical application of these anatomical data to the management of aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations of the MCA, and in the field of interventional neuroradiology is described. The most frequent pathological entities involving the perforating vessels are also discussed.

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 266-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Slobodan V. Marinković ◽  
Miroslav S. Kovačević ◽  
Jelena M. Marinković

✓ Perforating branches of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were examined under magnification in 50 formalin-fixed brain hemispheres. Perforating vessels varied in number from three to 18, with an average of nine. The greater the number of vessels, the smaller was their diameter. In this study, the perforating arteries were divided into medial, middle, and lateral groupings. Those in the medial group usually arose directly from the MCA main trunk close to the carotid bifurcation. There were usually three vessels in the middle group, which originated not only from the MCA trunk, but also from the MCA collateral (cortical) branches. Common stems, when present, gave rise to individual perforating vessels and occasionally to thin olfactory and insular rami. Perforating arteries in the lateral group varied from one to nine in number. In addition to an origin from the MCA trunk, they also arose from cortical branches supplying the frontal and temporal lobes. The fact that lateral perforating vessels often originated from division sites and from terminal branches of the MCA is of clinical significance, because aneurysms are more commonly located at the MCA bifurcation. Anastomoses were not found among the perforating arteries. In two specimens, a fusion between a perforating artery and the MCA trunk was noted. Since the perforating vessels are obviously end arteries, injury to them must be avoided during operations for MCA aneurysms.


2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 1277-1290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Necmettin Tanriover ◽  
Masatou Kawashima ◽  
Albert L. Rhoton ◽  
Arthur J. Ulm ◽  
Robert A. Mericle

Object. The cortical arteries arising from the main trunk of the middle cerebral artery, proximal to its bifurcation or trifurcation, are called “early branches.” The purpose of this study was to characterize these early branches. Methods. The early branches were characterized according to their sites and patterns of origin, diameters, and relative proximity to the internal carotid artery bifurcation, as well as the course and area of supply of their cortical branches based on an examination of 50 hemispheres. Special attention was directed to the perforating arteries that arose from the early branches and entered the anterior perforated substance. The anatomical findings were compared with data obtained from 109 angiograms. Conclusions. Early branches directed to the temporal and frontal lobes were found in 90 and 32% of the hemispheres, respectively. The early branches that arose more proximally from the M1 segment were larger than those arising distally. Lenticulostriate arteries arose from 81% of the early frontal branches (EFBs) and from 48% of the early temporal branches (ETBs). An average of two cortical arteries arose from the EFBs and 1.3 from the ETBs, the most common of which supplied the temporopolar and orbitofrontal areas. Although the microsurgical anatomy of the early branches demonstrates abundant diversity, they can be classified into clearly defined patterns based on anatomical features. These patterns can prove helpful in evaluating angiographic data and in planning an operative procedure.


1979 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 802-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clinton F. Miller ◽  
Robert F. Spetzler ◽  
Dennis J. Kopaniky

✓ A case is reported of successful anastomosis of the middle meningeal artery to a cortical branch of the middle cerebral artery. Based on the analyses of 50 random angiograms, the authors discuss the circumstances in which such an anastomosis might be practical and indicated.


1975 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Skip Jacques ◽  
C. Hunter Shelden ◽  
D. Thomas Rogers ◽  
Anthony C. Trippi

✓ The authors report a case of bilateral posttraumatic middle cerebral artery occlusion. Previously reported unilateral cases are reviewed and possible pathophysiological mechanisms disscussed.


1972 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jusuke Ito ◽  
Komei Ueki ◽  
Hisayuki Ishikawa

✓ Carotid angiography of a patient with suspected subdural hematoma showed extravasation of the contrast medium from an ascending branch of the middle cerebral artery. The leak was verified at operation. There was no visual evidence of an aneurysm, angioma, subarachnoid or subpial hemorrhage.


1977 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antti Servo ◽  
Matti Puranen

✓ An aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery was treated by clipping with a Heifetz clip. The correct placement was confirmed angiographically immediately after the operation. At carotid angiography 1 year later the clip was found to have broken, and the aneurysm had increased in size.


1979 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Latchaw ◽  
James I. Ausman ◽  
Myoung C. Lee

✓ Pre- and postoperative angiograms on 40 patients undergoing superficial temporal-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass surgery have been examined in detail. Multiple postoperative angiograms have been obtained to evaluate the change in both the bypass circuit and the intracranial circulation over time. A reproducible system for evaluating the degree of intracranial vascular filling via the bypass is introduced. The study shows that the STA and its anastomotic branch increase in size over time, measured in months, in the majority of patients. This is paralleled by a progressive increase in the degree of intracranial vascular filling. These changes are proportional to the severity of the vascular disease before surgery. The pattern of preoperative collateral circulation may change over time following the addition of the bypass circuit. The progressive change over time suggests that a static analysis at one time may belie the true effect of the surgery. The change of collateral circulation, with augmentation of blood supply to areas of the brain other than those affected by the recent ischemic event, means that a total cerebral evaluation including neuropsychological testing may be necessary for adequate evaluation of the effect of the bypass surgery.


1985 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 831-838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian T. Andrews ◽  
Norman L. Chater ◽  
Philip R. Weinstein

✓ Forty-seven patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis and 18 patients with MCA occlusion underwent extracranial-intracranial arterial bypass procedures. Patients presented with a history of transient ischemic attacks (TIA's), reversible ischemic neurological deficits, TIA's after initial stroke, stroke-in-evolution, or completed stroke. Angiography revealed that the MCA stenosis ranged from 70% to over 95%. Two patients (4.3%) in the stenosis group had a perioperative stroke (within 30 days of operation). There was no perioperative mortality. In the occlusion group, no patient had a perioperative stroke, and one patient (5.5%) died from a non-neurological disease. The TIA's resolved completely in 90% of the patients with stenosis and in 91.6% of those with occlusion. No patient with MCA stenosis had a late ipsilateral stroke, although five had a contralateral or vertebrobasilar stroke. One patient with MCA occlusion had a late ipsilateral stroke. The bypass patency rate at late follow-up review was 100%. The results of intracranial-extracranial arterial bypass procedures appear to be similar for patients with either stenosis or occlusion of the MCA. Symptomatic relief of TIA's was excellent and, in two patients with progressive stroke-in-evolution, the deficit was stabilized. The incidence of postoperative ipsilateral stroke was low in patients with TIA's alone or with TIA's after an initial stroke, but among patients with completed stroke, improvement was confined to slight reduction in the neurological deficit.


2004 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuhide Furuya ◽  
Nobutaka Kawahara ◽  
Kensuke Kawai ◽  
Tomikatsu Toyoda ◽  
Keiichiro Maeda ◽  
...  

Object. The intraluminal suture model for focal cerebral ischemia is increasingly used, but not without problems. It causes hypothalamic injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and inadvertent premature reperfusion. The patency of the posterior communicating artery (PCoA) potentially affects the size of the infarct. In addition, survival at 1 week is unstable. The authors operated on C57Black6 mice to produce proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) so that drawbacks with the suture model could be circumvented. Methods. The MCA segment just proximal to the olfactory branch was occluded either permanently or temporarily. After 1 hour of MCAO the infarct volume was significantly smaller than that found after 2 hours or in instances of permanent MCAO. The differences were assessed at 24 hours and 7 days after surgery (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). The patency of the PCoA, as visualized using carbon black solution, did not correlate with the infarct size. Neurologically, the 1- and 2-hour MCAO groups displayed significantly less severe deficits than the permanent MCAO group on Days 1, 4, and 7 (p < 0.005 and p < 0.01, respectively). Although the infarct size, neurological deficits, and body weight loss were more severe in the permanent MCAO group, the survival rate at Day 7 was 80%. Conclusions. This model provides not only a robust infarct size (which is not affected by the patency of the PCoA), but also a better survival rate.


1973 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 498-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matej Lipovšek

✓ In 57 patients with proximal middle cerebral artery aneurysms, two forms of treatment are reviewed, namely, bed rest and common carotid ligation. Patients who had no angiographic evidence of spasm or accompanying hematoma did better with carotid ligation than with bed rest if they were treated within the first week of the onset of subarachnoid hemorrhage.


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