Variant topography of the Carotid Arteries -A Clinicoanatomical Appraisal.

Apart from being the chief arteries of head, neck and brain, the carotids serve as an important landmark in defining the plane of dissection during radical neck surgeries. This report presents unique bilateral variations of the carotid arterial system in the neck explored during cadaveric dissection of a male cadaver. Common carotid arteries bilaterally terminated at a higher vertebral level and displayed abnormal branching patterns. Surgico-anatomical basis of undocumented branches such as accessory lingual artery and accessory pharyngeal artery revealed in this case report have been discussed in detail. A sound knowledge of such variations is important for radiologists performing carotid angiography, for anaesthesiologists and for surgeons performing vascular surgeries like carotid endarterectomy, catheterization and carotid aneurysm.