Prevalence of anatomical variations at the suboccipital (V3) segment of the vertebral artery: a systematic review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A recent meta-analysis on the incidence of iatrogenic injury to the VA has revealed that patients with variant anatomy are more prone to iatrogenic injury. Therefore, this review is designed to investigate the incidence of variations in the suboccipital component of the vertebral artery in different population groups according to the available literature. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). The review is based on a comprehensive and extensive search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate. The following search terms were used: “vertebral artery” AND “suboccipital segment” AND “anomalies/anatomical variations of the V3 segment.” Reference lists of all extracted articles were also extensively searched for references to any further relevant publications. RESULTS: A total of 17 papers met the inclusion criteria. The 17 studies corresponded to a total of 10,820 patients. A persistent first intersegmental artery was registered in 1.8% (197 out of 10,820) of the patients. Extradural PICA origin was observed in 1.6% (175 out of 10,820) of the patients. Fenestration was detected in 0.7% (72 out of 10,820) of the patients. CONCLUSION: The authors summarize the incidence of vascular variation at the suboccipital segment of the VA in different population groups across the Asian, European, American, and African continents. Awareness of the extent of possible anatomical variation will help interpret radiographs, which will enhance the identification of vascular pathologies and reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury.