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Results for “Vertebral Artery Dissection”

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PubMed2004

[Spontaneous cervical carotid and vertebral arteries dissection: study of 48 patients].

OBJECTIVE: To report a Brazilian series of spontaneous cervical arterial dissections, risk factors, warning symptoms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic tests, treatment and prognosis. METHOD: We performed the retrospective analysis of clinical and neuroradiological records (MRI, A-MRI and Angiography) of patients with this diagnosis who were evaluated in a tertiary hospital for the period of 1997-2003. RESULTS: 48 patients (24 men) with median age 37.9 years: 26 patients with unilateral internal carotid dissection (ICAD), 15 with unilateral vertebral artery dissection (VAD) and 7 with multivessel dissections. All patients presented neurological deficits. Hypertension, smoking and dyslipidemia were the main risk factors. More than 80% of patients presented at least one initial symptom, most of them temporoparietal headache. 44% of patients with VAD and only 3.4% of patients with ICAD had neck pain. The median interval between the onset of symptom and the appearance of neurological deficit was 5.4 days for ICAD and 13.5 days for VAD. Five patients with ICAD presented preceding TIA. Angiography was performed in 93% of patients. In 42% of these patients, MRI and A-MRI were associated. In three patients the diagnosis was made just through cervical MRI. 75% of patients received anticoagulation. Two patients received intravenous thrombolytic therapy with no complications. Prognosis was good for all patients but two patients with bilateral ICAD died. CONCLUSION: Our results are similar to the literature, except for the low frequency of neck pain in ICAD patients and predominance of temporoparietal headache in cervical artery dissection patients. Vascular risk factors were commonly found.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

The use of CT-angiography for monitoring thrombus formation after balloon occlusion of a dissecting vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm.

We present a 49-year-old man with a subarachnoid haemorrhage from a dissecting vertebral artery (VA) pseudoaneurysm treated with a proximal balloon occlusion. The clinical course was complicated by the sudden appearance of a lateral medullary syndrome (Wallenberg), which completely resolved after anticoagulant therapy. During this course, CT-angiography (CTA) enabled monitoring of both the progression and partial resolution of the thrombus in the occluded VA. An anatomical variant of a perforating artery originating from the VA proximal to the posterior inferior cerebral artery (PICA) was subsequently demonstrated, explaining the ischemic event. The value of CTA in clinical management is discussed. The prophylactic use of anticoagulant therapy especially in the case of a perforating artery to the lateral medulla originating proximally to the PICA, is suggested.

Aneurysm, False↗

PubMed1995

Vertebral artery dissection related to basilar impression: case report.

A 50-year-old man with myelopathy secondary to basilar impression developed bilateral vertebral artery dissection after undergoing treatment with 8 pounds of cervical traction. The vertebral artery dissection resulted in vertebrobasilar insufficiency and posterior circulation stroke. In this report, the current management philosophies in the treatment of basilar impression are discussed, and the pertinent neurovascular anatomy is illustrated. This report suggests that vertebral artery injury may result from attempted reduction of severe basilar impression. Regardless of the cause of cranial settling, the risk of vertebral artery injury with cervical traction should be considered in patients with severe basilar impression.

Aortic Dissection↗

PubMed1996

[Vertebral artery dissection without subarachnoid hemorrhage studied by serial angiography].

We presented six cases we have encountered of vertebral artery dissection without subarachnoid hemorrhage followed by serial angiography. All six patients suffered from severe headache and/or nuchal pain at onset. Pain was acute at onset, with severe intensity and sharp quality and was located unilaterally on the dissection side. Only two patients showed neurological deficits. CT scan disclosed no abnormalities in any of the cases and angiography performed at the acute stage showed varied findings. The so-called pearl and string sign, which has been considered the most common finding of this disorder, was observed in only two cases. The definite diagnosis was able to be finally made by serial angiography. During the first few months after onset, dynamic changes of angiographical findings were demonstrated in all cases. During these periods, although transient deterioration of the angiographical findings was shown in four cases, spontaneous healing or improvement was finally recognized in all cases except one which progressed to total occlusion. In contrast to this, in the chronic stage, no changes of angiographical findings occurred in any of the cases. All six patients were treated non-surgically. All showed almost total recovery from symptoms and returned to their previous life styles. There were no cases of recurrent deterioration of symptoms in spite of the changes indicated by the angiographical findings. Our experience with these patients suggests that the actual incidence of vertebral artery dissection without subarachnoid hemorrhage may be much higher than is usually thought, and that the natural course of this disorder seems to be usually favorable. However, longer follow-up study and an analysis of a larger number of cases are required to identify the true incidence and the natural course of this disorder. In addition, we would like to emphasize that accurate diagnosis is most important. If it is clinically suspected, careful investigations including serial angiography should be carried out for the diagnosis of this disorder.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Cerebellar infarction with hydrocephalus caused by spontaneous extracranial vertebral artery dissection--case report.

A 38-year-old male suffered sudden onset of rotational vertigo without headache. Consciousness disturbance developed on the 3rd day after the onset. Computed tomography showed cerebellar infarction with obstructive hydrocephalus. External ventricular drainage was performed. Angiography showed bilateral extracranial vertebral artery dissection. Antiplatelet therapy was given. Repeat angiography showed improvement of the dissection. His neurological deficits completely resolved. Vertebral artery dissections may cause both lateral medullary or cerebellar infarction and hydrocephalus due to the cerebellar infarction manifesting as various symptoms so careful evaluation and treatment are required.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Ultrasound findings in spontaneous extracranial vertebral artery dissection.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In this study we analyzed the value of ultrasound examination for diagnosis of vertebral artery dissection. METHODS: The vertebrobasilar arterial system was assessed in 14 patients using transcranial and extracranial pulsed-wave Doppler and duplex sonography. RESULTS: The dissections were verified by angiography (in 1 patient), magnetic resonance imaging (in 5), or both (in 8). The dissected segments were atlantoaxial (V-3) in 6, V-3 and intertransverse (V-2) in 3, V-3 and intracranial (V-4) in 3, and V-2 in 2 patients. Extracranial and transcranial Doppler examination of the atlas loop, involved in 12 patients, showed absent flow signal in 5, low bidirectional flow signal in 1, and poststenotic low blood flow velocities in 3 patients. Seven of these patients had high-grade stenosis or occlusion. The stenotic segment with increased flow signal could be identified directly in 2 patients. Duplex examination of the intertransverse segment confirmed absent flow in 4 patients, making technically insufficient examination unlikely. In the 2 patients with directly detected stenosis, duplex examination showed low flow velocities before the stenosis. The combined use of extracranial and transcranial Doppler and duplex sonography increases the diagnostic yield to detect vertebral artery pathology. If any abnormal sonographic finding was considered, the yield was 86%; relying only on definitively abnormal findings (absent flow signal, severely reduced vertebral artery blood flow velocities, no diastolic flow, bidirectional flow, and a stenosis signal), the yield was 64%. CONCLUSIONS: In most cases, there is no pathognomonic ultrasound finding for vertebral artery dissection. However, if a patient presents with suggestive symptoms, ultrasound may corroborate the clinical suspicion and aid in the decision regarding early anticoagulant treatment. A definite diagnosis can be made noninvasively when magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates hematoma in the vessel wall. Angiography yields additional information such as nature of underlying vascular disease, site and extent of dissection, intracranial extension, and presence of pseudoaneurysm.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Extracranial vertebral artery dissection: nine cases.

Nine patients (six men, three women) with extracranial vertebral artery dissection are described. Their mean age was 39.1 years (range 17-66). In four cases dissection was "spontaneous"; in the other five cases there was a history of trivial trauma. Three patients had fibromuscular dysplasia, two were migraineurs, one had elastorrhexis. Treatment varied. Six received heparin, three acetylsalicylic acid or ticlopidine. Eight had good recovery. Two patients experienced recurrence when stopping acetylsalicylic acid. The pathogenesis of dissections and the distinction between spontaneous dissections and those associated with minor trauma are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Intracranial vertebral artery dissection mimicking acute peripheral vertigo.

When diagnosing and treating patients with acute vertigo, the clinician must differentiate brain lesions from benign peripheral disorders. We here report a rare case of acute vertigo caused by intracranial vertebral artery dissection mimicking peripheral disease. A 67-year-old man presented with spontaneous nystagmus and moderate ataxia preceded by neck pain. No other neurological signs were observed, suggesting acute peripheral vertigo. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a cerebellar infarction. Simultaneous magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) showed no flow void of the left vertebral artery and contrast-enhanced MRA demonstrated a double lumen sign, suggesting that vertebral artery dissection was a cause of infarction. The clinical course was favorable without anticoagulation drugs, which are sometimes contraindicated because of the potential risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Vertebral artery dissection can cause cerebellar infarction in patients without vascular risk factors mimicking acute peripheral vertigo. Careful history regarding the neck pain is important and MRA in combination with MRI can replace angiography in diagnosing this disorder.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Vertebral artery dissection in Turner's syndrome: diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging.

Aortic artery dissection is a rare but well-recognized complication of Turner's syndrome. Isolated carotid or vertebral artery dissection has not previously been reported. The authors report the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging findings in a 30-year-old woman with Turner's syndrome who developed a high cervical spinal cord infarction with a Brown-Sequard syndrome owing to bilateral vertebral artery dissection. The diagnosis and management of the case is reviewed.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm rebleeding after proximal occlusion--case report.

A 38-year-old male presented with vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm manifesting as subarachnoid hemorrhage. An attempt at trapping the aneurysm failed, so the vertebral artery could only be clipped proximally. Rebleeding occurred, resulting in death, probably due to excessive length of the dissection requiring thrombosis and/or retrograde dissection due to back pressure from the contralateral vertebral artery.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment of a ruptured dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm with double stent placement: case report.

A ruptured dissecting right vertebral artery aneurysm was treated by means of double stent placement with two overlapping stents. Control angiography performed 3 d after stent placement revealed beginning aneurysmal thrombosis. Substantial reduction in aneurysmal size was observed after 4 wk, whereas total occlusion was observed after 3 mo. The reduced stent porosity caused by the overlapping stents, which result in significant hemodynamic changes inside the aneurysmal sac, may accelerate intraaneurysmal thrombosis and may be helpful in achieving a more rapid complete occlusion compared with that achieved by single stent placement.

Aneurysm, Ruptured↗

PubMed2003

Cranial nerve pareses following wrapping of a ruptured dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm: a possible complication of cyanoacrylate glue--case report.

A 51-year-old female with a ruptured dissecting vertebral artery aneurysm underwent an uneventful wrapping technique using Biobond-soaked gauze through a unilateral suboccipital transcondyle approach. On the 3rd postoperative day, she developed pareses of the ipsilateral VII through XII cranial nerves. Daily intravenous administration of 300 mg of hydrocortisone was started. This treatment was continued and dosage was tapered until the 10th postoperative day. The cranial nerve pareses deteriorated until the 8th postoperative day, but slowly resolved by 3 weeks after surgery. The patient was discharged with slight hoarseness and dysphasia 5 weeks after surgery. She had only slight hoarseness at 6 months. This complication was probably due to a neural toxic response to the Biobond.

Aneurysm, Ruptured↗

PubMed1991

[A case of spontaneous cervical vertebral artery dissection resulting in Wallenberg's syndrome--diagnostic value of the cervical axial MRI].

Findings of the cervical axial MRI are discussed in a case of spontaneous cervical vertebral artery dissection resulting in Wallenberg's syndrome. A 42-year-old male was hospitalized because of sudden onset of severe occipital pain. Cerebral angiography performed on the day of admission revealed severe tapering stenosis of the right vertebral artery at the C-5 level of the vertebra. Angiography repeated 50 days later showed partial resolution of the narrowing. T-1 weighted axial MRI of the neck demonstrated significantly narrowing flow void of the right vertebral artery when compared with the contralateral side. A crescent-like high intensity area was also seen surrounding the lumen. These findings were consistent with hematoma within the dissected wall of the vertebral artery. MRI is considered useful in identifying such vascular lesions as cerebral artery dissection.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Bilateral vertebral artery dissection after chiropractic treatment].

A 31-year-old woman suffered a brainstem infarction secondary to chiropractic neck manipulation. A dissection of both vertebral arteries could be demonstrated by MR tomography. This case report should alert therapists to be aware of vertebrobasilar complications after spinal manipulations.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Vertebral artery dissection and alternating hemiparesis in an adolescent.

A case report of vertebral artery dissection and alternating hemiparesis in an adolescent boy is presented. The diagnosis was confirmed by findings on a computed tomographic brain scan and a four-vessel cerebral arteriogram. The patient has been treated with aspirin for 2 years and has had no further transient ischemic attacks.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

MR diagnosis of cerebellar infarction due to vertebral artery dissection in children.

Posterior circulation infarction is uncommon in children. We describe the clinical presentation and radiological findings in two children with cerebellar infarction resulting from dissection of the vertebral artery. We emphasize that vertebral artery injury should be considered in a child with acute symptoms and signs of ischaemia in the posterior circulation. MRI and MRA may be helpful in the diagnosis of cerebellar infarction and vertebral artery abnormality.

Cerebellar Diseases↗

PubMed2002

Vertebral artery dissection presenting with isolated neck pain.

Unilateral pain in the cervical region and limitation of neck movements are nonspecific symptoms frequently encountered in daily medical practice. Vertebral artery dissection is rarely considered as a diagnostic possibility unless brainstem or cerebellar ischemia follows the acute pain. Three cases of vertebral artery dissection (VAD) having the sole complaint of pain of acute onset in the posterior neck region are presented. None of the patients had ever reported a similar pain, and the neurological examination was unremarkable in all of them. Doppler ultrasonography suggested VAD in 2 cases, and the diagnosis was confirmed with T1 fat-suppressed magnetic resonance imaging technique in all patients. Severe neck pain and/or occipital headache frequently accompanies ischemic symptoms in cases with VAD. The cases in this report emphasize that spontaneous and often unilateral posterior cervical pain of acute onset can be the only manifestation of a VAD. A high degree of suspicion especially in young patients with no past history of a similar pain can help to establish the diagnosis, thereby preventing erroneous and potentially hazardous therapeutic interventions such as physiotherapy or neck manipulation.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Rubral lateropulsion due to vertebral artery dissection in a patient with Klippel-Feil syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Neurologic deficits in patients with Klippel-Feil syndrome usually are attributed to direct compression of neuronal structures or hypoperfusion secondary to compression of the vertebral arteries by bony abnormalities. OBJECTIVE: To describe a 38-year-old woman with known Klippel-Feil syndrome who developed lateropulsion. RESULTS: The results of magnetic resonance imaging were consistent with rubrothalamic stroke. The cerebral angiogram confirmed vertebral artery dissection at the level of her previously observed bony abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: Hypermobility adjacent to fused vertebrae subjects the vertebral artery to increased shear forces. Thus, Klippel-Feil syndrome may be a predisposing factor for vertebral artery dissection. Moreover, to our knowledge, this case represents the second known case of rubral lateropulsion.

Adult↗