Persistent stapedial artery
Dr Haris Sair et al.
The persistent stapedial artery (PSA) is an abnormal small vessel arising from the petrous portion of the internal carotid artery and crossing through the middle ear. It results from the failure of regression of the embryonic stapedial artery.
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Epidemiology
The prevalence is thought to range from 0.02 to 0.48% in the population.
Clinical presentation
- pulsatile tinnitus
- conductive hearing loss due to ankylosis of the stapes
- sensorineural hearing loss due to an erosion of otic capsule (rare)
- mass seen over the promontory in the middle ear while performing an otoscopic examination
- incidental finding during surgery that can lead to haemorrhage if not properly identified
Gross anatomy
- arises from the proximal hyoid artery at 4-5 weeks of life
- passes through the obturator foramen of stapes
- branches into upper and lower divisions
- posterior division of the upper branch becomes middle meningeal artery
- lower branch (maxillomandibular) has two branches
- mandibular artery (becomes inferior alveolar artery in adult)
- infraorbital artery (becomes infraorbital artery in adult)
Anastomosis forms between ventral pharyngeal artery (precursor of external carotid artery) and lower division of stapedial artery
As the ventral pharyngeal artery supplies flow to middle meningeal artery, stapedial artery regresses, leaving small caroticotympanic artery
Blood supply
Can arise from
Radiographic features
- small canaliculus originating from the petrous segment of the internal carotid artery
- linear soft tissue density crossing over the cochlear promontory
- enlarged facial nerve canal or separate canal parallel to facial nerve
- aplastic or hypoplastic foramen spinosum
- may be a normal variant or in instances where middle meningeal artery arises from the ophthalmic artery
Related pathology
- may be associated with aberrant ICA, which is formed when inferior tympanic artery anastomosis with the caroticotympanic artery; enlarged inferior tympanic canaliculus is then seen
- may be associated with other middle ear anomalies
Related articles
Head and neck anatomy
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cranial vault
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