Fetal posterior cerebral artery

Last revised by Henry Knipe ◉ on 20 Jun 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Gaillard F, Knipe H, Sharma R, et al. Fetal posterior cerebral artery. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 14 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-4914

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-4914

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/4914?embed_domain=external.radpair.com%252527%25255B0%25255D%252527%25255B0%25255D

rID:

4914

Article created:

2 Nov 2008, Frank Gaillard ◉ ◈

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.

View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures

Last revised:

20 Jun 2024, Henry Knipe ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:

Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)

These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.

View Henry Knipe's current disclosures

Revisions:

28 times, by 21 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Vascular, Central Nervous System

Tags:

variant

Synonyms:

Fetal posterior comminucating artery
Fetal origin of posterior cerebral artery
Fetal posterior cerebral arteries
Fetal PCOM

A fetal (origin of the) posterior cerebral artery (fetal PCA), sometimes also referred to less accurately as fetal (origin of the) posterior communicating artery (fetal PCom), is a common variant in the posterior cerebral circulation.

A fetal PCA describes a situation whereby the posterior communicating artery (PCom) is larger than the P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and, thus, supplies the bulk of the blood to the PCA ^4,5. The P1 can be small (hypoplastic) or absent in this setting. When bilateral fetal PCAs are present, the basilar artery will be significantly smaller in caliber than normal ^ref.

Relations

In cases of non-fetal PCA, the PCom lies superomedial to the oculomotor nerve, whereas, in cases of fetal PCA, it lies superior or superolateral to it ^ref.

Clinical significance

The significance of fetal PCA is in relation to the pattern of ischemic stroke, given that if a fetal PCA is present, the PCA is essentially part of the anterior circulation ^ref. This becomes relevant, for example, if there is ipsilateral internal carotid artery stenosis. Additionally, a larger PCom with an existing P1 allows for collateral circulation.