Bihemispheric posterior inferior cerebellar artery in a cadaver with Chiari I malformation

Abstract

Typically, patients with Chiari I malformations (CM I) do not have other intracranial anatomical variations, especially vascular derailments. Here, we report the findings of a cadaveric specimen found to have CM I and cerebellar tonsils supplied by a single posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) i.e., a bihemispheric PICA. An adult male cadaver was found to have CM I. It was also noted that the left PICA descended inferiorly to the level of C1 and that there was absence of the right PICA. The territory of the right PICA was supplied by the left PICA. The tonsillar component of the left PICA gave rise to a branch that crossed to the right inferior cerebellum and herniated cerebellar tonsil. A bihemispheric PICA is very rare. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this vascular variation in combination with CM I. Such a variation should be kept in mind, especially during posterior fossa decompression for symptomatic CM I as unilateral PICA injury could have catastrophic results.