The internal auditory artery: (embryology, anatomy, angiography, pathology).

A review of the literature on the embryology, anatomy and angiography of the internal auditory artery has shown that there may be considerable variation as to the origin and number of internal auditory arteries. The present study, based on serial magnification angiographies of the internal auditory artery, has demonstrated 7 variants of the origin of this artery although in 45.4% of cases the internal auditory artery arose from the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. For the diagnosis of pathological processes in the cerebellopontine angle (tumors, sudden deafness, vascular abnormalities) magnification angiography is of special importance. Acoustic neurinomas in particular can be diagnosed…