Analysis of cerebral vascularization patterns in the deciduous age and assessment of anatomical variations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i3.50135Keywords:
Brain, Child, Cerebral Veins, Cerebral Arteries, Anatomical Variation.Abstract
The development of the encephalic vascular system is a complex process, marked by anastomoses and remodeling that result in a wide diversity of anatomical patterns. Such variations, although often asymptomatic, may have relevant clinical implications, especially in the context of cerebrovascular diseases and neurosurgical and endovascular procedures. The aim of this study was to analyze the morphological pattern of arterial supply and venous drainage of the encephalon, reporting the most frequent anatomical variations in the deciduous age. To this end, a systematized and integrative review of the literature was conducted using national and international electronic databases, complemented by a snowball search. The data obtained were organized into comparative tables summarizing reported variations in arteries (internal carotid, anterior cerebral, anterior communicating, middle cerebral, posterior cerebral, and posterior communicating arteries) and veins (inferior anastomotic veins, basilar cerebral vein, and middle cerebral vein). Among the most relevant findings were the presence of variants such as azygos or bihemispheric anterior cerebral artery, duplicated or fenestrated middle cerebral artery, absent or duplicated anterior communicating artery, and fetal posterior cerebral artery. In the venous system, the main variations involved the middle cerebral vein and the inferior anastomotic veins, particularly regarding their course and duplications. Therefore, detailed knowledge of encephalic vascular anatomical variations is fundamental for clinical and radiological practice. Recognition of these variants helps avoid misdiagnoses, prevent iatrogenic injuries, and improve the planning of neurosurgical and endovascular interventions, directly contributing to better clinical outcomes in cerebrovascular diseases.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Giovanna Pimentel Miranda, Heloísa Costa dos Santos, Ayrton Alves Aranha Junior, Djanira Aparecida da Luz Veronez
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