The anterior choroidal artery syndrome. I. Microangiography of the anterior choroidal artery.

The distribution of the anterior choroidal artery (AChA) was analysed on coronal, sagittal and axial microangiograms of cadaver brains. On axial sections, the territory of the AChA was confined to an arcuate zone between the striatum anterolaterally and the thalamus posteromedially. On sagittal sections, fine vessels from the cisternal part of the AChA were seen to extend upwards and somewhat posteriorly into the region of the posterior limb of the internal capsule. On coronal sections, ascending branches of the AChA coursed laterally and then upwards to penetrate the globus pallidus and the inferior portion of the posterior limb of the internal capsule, apparently terminating at the lateral border of the thalamus. Determining the distribution of this artery on multiplanar sections was helpful for interpreting pathological changes, including infarcts, occurring in this region on multiplanar CT and/or MR images.