Aberrant Carotid Artery: Presentation in the Near Midline Pharynx

Abstract

Three cases of an aberrant internal carotid artery presenting at or near the midline in the posterior part of the pharynx occurred. In all three cases, the anomalous finding was not correlated with the presenting symptoms of the patient. In two of the three cases intraoral pulsations were detected during initial examination. In the third case, pulsations were appreciated on reexamination after roentgenographic evaluation. Intraoral photographs, computed tomographic scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and arteriography of these findings are shown. A review of the literature and the embryology of the lateral pharyngeal carotid artery are presented along with the rare finding of the near midline carotid artery and the clinical implications of this anomaly.