Fetal-Type Variant of the Posterior Cerebral Artery and Concurrent Bilateral Cerebral Infarctions in a Korean Male Cadaver

Abstract

Fetal-type variant of the posterior cerebral artery is a relatively common variant of the cerebral arterial circle (circle of Willis), but concurrent cerebral pathologies have not been well reported. We describe a case of fetal-type variant of the posterior cerebral artery and concurrent bilateral cerebral infarctions in the territories of the middle cerebral artery in a 78-year-old Korean male cadaver. Fetal-type variant of the posterior cerebral artery was found the right cerebral arterial circle, arose from the internal carotid artery with larger diameter than the pre-communicating segment from the basilar artery. Histopathological examination revealed that left supramarginal gyrus and right infraparietal lobule showed characteristic cerebral infarctions with chronological changes, respectively. Knowledge on the variation in the posterior cerebral artery combined with clinical features including cerebral infarction plays a pivotal role to anatomists and clinicians.