From the Research
Significance of a Retropharyngeal Carotid Artery
The retropharyngeal carotid artery is a significant anatomical variation that can have important implications for patients undergoing pharyngeal approach surgical procedures 1, 2, 3. The proximity of the artery to the pharyngeal wall increases the risk of surgical and non-surgical complications 1.
Key Characteristics
- The position of the artery is not constant and can change over time 2, 4
- The artery can take multiple pathways as it extends from the carotid bifurcation to the skull base 1
- Radiographic classification is based on its proximity to the pharynx and/or pathway 1
Clinical Implications
- Knowledge of the anatomy and variations of the internal carotid artery is important for oral and maxillofacial radiologists and surgeons to enable clinicians to take necessary precautions to decrease complications if performing any procedure in the region 1
- Imaging findings from a single study alone may not be sufficient to confidently exclude this clinically significant arterial anomaly 2
- The phenomenon of migration of the carotid arteries to and from a retropharyngeal position with time is confirmed by studies 4
Prevalence and Variations
- The prevalence of retropharyngeal carotid arteries is reported to be around 15.5% in some studies 4
- There are variations in the course of the carotid arteries in patients with retropharyngeal parathyroid adenomas 5
- A clinical grading system can be used to classify carotid anatomy and highlight the relationship between carotid artery location and risk of injury during pharyngeal procedures 5