Mapping the circle of Trolard: A holistic view of its role in neurosurgical practice, anatomical perspectives and clinical applications

• Published in: Brain & spine 2024-01, Vol.4, p.102789-102789, Article 102789
• Main Authors: Atallah, Oday, Muthana, Ahmed, Sanker, Vivek, Wawi, Omar, Hoz, Samer S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Basal venous circle; Circle of Trolard; Deep cerebral vein; Review
• ISSN: 2772-5294; 2772-5294
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bas.2024.102789

An anatomical structure that resembles the circle of Willis, the circle of Trolard is generated in the basal cistern and travels around the midbrain in a roundabout manner, passing adjacent to the lateral side of the cerebral peduncle. The primary objective of this article is to provide neurosurgeons with a comprehensive understanding of Trolard's circle, emphasizing its anatomical features and clinical significance. A comprehensive evaluation of the available literature pertaining to the venous circle of Trolard was conducted by conducting searches in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. In the present overview, the terminologies “venous circle of Trolard,” “basal venous circle,” and “basal vein of Rosenthal” were employed. Upon doing a comprehensive examination of the existing literature and primary sources pertaining to the venous circle of Trolard, it was discovered that an only six studies had been conducted on this particular subject matter. We made observations regarding the anatomical characteristics of the subject and engaged in a discussion regarding their prospective applications and importance within the context of neurosurgical procedures. The scarcity of research on these structures is attributed to the challenges associated in studying them in vivo. Through directing focus towards these structures, our aim is to stimulate further investigation into their potential involvement in a range of neurological and neurosurgical disorders. •The circle of Trolard appears in the basal cistern and circles the midbrain, passing near the cerebral peduncle's lateral side.•This paper aims to elucidate the anatomical features of this circle and its relevance in surgical procedures, specifically the clipping of aneurysms.•There is a need for additional cadaver research in order to gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon.