Embryological considerations on a multiple vascular anomaly in a child.

Coiling and kinking of the internal carotid artery are considered of remarkable importance in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischaemic episodes, especially in adults. The authors describe the case of a seven months old infant who underwent aortic and bilateral cerebral angiography because of severe neurological symptomatology. Besides serious malformations of the aorta and major vessels, both coiling of the left internal carotid artery and kinking of the right internal carotid artery were found. The arterious anomalies of the aortic branches are probably due to the deranged development of the two subclavian arteries and, in particular, of the right one. Owing to the patient's age, the carotid alterations are also consequent to an abnormal development of the arterious district deriving from the primitive aortic archs, especially the third arch.