Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Ischaemia / Infarction, Diagnostic procedure, MR, CT-Angiography, CT, Neuroradiology brain
Authors:
E. Scapin1, A. Mereu1, M. V. V. Cherchi2, L. Saba3; 1Monserrato (CA)/IT, 2Selargius (CA)/IT, 3Cagliari/IT
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-1151
Background
The thalamus is a bilateral symmetric,
obliquely oriented ovoid mass of gray matter that lies posteromedial to the lentiform nuclei and forms the lateral wall of the third ventricle [1].
Each thalamus is subdivided into several groups of nuclei and has a complex blood supply,
with significant variation and overlap,
mostly made of multiple small vessels originating from posterior communicating arteries (PcomA) and from segments P1 and P2 of the posterior cerebral arteries (PCA) [2].
Classically thalamic vascularization can be categorized into four territories: anterior,
paramedian,
inferolateral and posterior.
The anterior territory is supplied by the polar arteries,
originating from the PcomA; the paramedian territory,
including the subthalamic-mesencephalic junction,
is supplied by the thalamoperforating arteries,
which arise from the P1 segment of the PCA.
The inferolateral territory receives blood supply from the thalamogeniculate arteries,
branching from the P2 segment of the PCA.
The posterior territory is supplied by the posterior choroidal arteries,
arising from the P2 segment of the PCA [2].
The artery of Percheron (PA) is a rare anatomical variant of thalamic perforating arteries,
with a single asymmetrical common trunk that arises from P1segment and supplies the rostral mesencephalon and paramedian territories of both thalami [3].