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Angiographic series reveals lateral external carotid artery displacement is common in adults over 40 and predominantly right-sided, indicating it is an underrecognized anatomical variant.
Lateral position of the external carotid artery has been infrequently reported and thus has been considered by many to represent a rare anomaly. In a series of 587 angiograms, this anomaly represents a common finding, with an incidence dependent upon the side of the body and the age of the patient. There was a greater incidence of this finding in patients over 40 years of age, and it was more commonly seen on the right than on the left.
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Teal et al. (1973) studied this question.
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