ABNORMAL ORIGIN OF INTERNAL THORACIC AND VERTEBRAL ARTERIES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of the origin of the internal thoracic and vertebral arteries after a cadaver demonstr ated abnormal origins for both vessels. The arteries were studied in 6 0 adult cadavers and measurements taken to adjacent structures. In one cadaver the right internal thoracic artery originated from the third part of the subclavian artery (one of 120 arteries; 0.83%). The same c adaver presented with the left vertebral artery originating directly f rom the aortic arch between the left common carotid and left subclavia n arteries. Two other cadavers also presented with abnormal vertebral arteries, making it three of 60 left vertebral arteries (5%). These re sults are comparable to the established range in the literature. The i nternal thoracic artery is used for revascularization in coronary arte ry diseases and as this area is also used for subclavian vein catheter ization, it is important to be aware of this rare variation concerning the internal thoracic artery. This study reports an important variati on in the origins of the internal thoracic and vertebral artery in a s ingular cadaver. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.