Variant origin of common interosseous artery from brachial artery

Case contributed by Dalia Ibrahim
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Right hand pain.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Female

CT arteriography Rt upper limb

ct

Abnormal high variant origin of the common interosseous artery from the brachial artery in the upper arm. It descends parallel to the brachial artery in the arm and upper forearm to end to end by division into anterior and posterior interosseous arteries.

The brachial artery divides at the cubital fossa to the radial and ulnar arteries.

Patent radial artery which could be traced down to the wrist with patent deep palmar arch and palmar metacarpal digital arteries.

Patent ulnar artery which could be traced to the wrist with patent superficial palmar arch and common palmar digital arteries.

Case Discussion

The case illustrates a very rare anatomical variant of the brachial artery branches with abnormal high variant origin of the common inter-osseous artery at the upper arm, it then descends parallel to the brachial artery till the level of the upper forearm where it divides into the anterior interosseous and posterior interosseous arteries.

Variations in upper limb arteries have been frequently observed majority of these variations occur in radial artery followed by ulnar artery, however common interosseous artery variations are less common, especially the variant we have described in this case.

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