CTA-based classification of occipital artery course variations at the atlanto-occipital interval, with surgical implications

Key Points

• To classify variations in the occipital artery course using CTA for better surgical planning.
• Used CTA to assess occipital artery topography at the atlanto-occipital interval.
• Developed a structured classification framework for preoperative assessment.
• Analyzed course variations and their surgical relevance.
• Identified key variations in occipital artery positioning.
• Demonstrated the link between intrasulcal course and surgical approaches.
• Provided insights useful for bypass procedure planning.