Duplicate origin of the middle cerebral artery: a rare variant

The cerebral arterial circle exhibits considerable morphological variability. Variations in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) are infrequent occurrences that can be readily identified via imaging techniques. The current imaging report describes a rare variant of the MCA consisting of a duplicate origin, which was incidentally discovered in a 42-year-old female patient through computed tomography angiography. The duplicated origin of the MCA was identified on the left side of the cerebral arterial circle, forming an arterial ring with the temporopolar branch of the MCA originating from one of its limbs. The remainder of the arterial circle demonstrated no variants. It is essential to distinguish variants of the MCA without conflating them. The present variant is accurately characterized as a 'duplicate origin", it should not be confused with fenestrations, and has a reported prevalence of 0.1%. Comprehending such arterial variations is vital prior to undertaking endovascular or neurosurgical procedures in the region.