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Recognizing vertebral artery dissection in children: a case report
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Penn State Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania 17821, USA. drcallie@ptd.net
Insights
Vertebral artery dissection is a rare cause of stroke in children, often linked to minor trauma or underlying conditions. Recognizing subtle, intermittent symptoms is crucial for diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is an uncommon cause of stroke, particularly in pediatric populations.
- While often associated with trauma, the inciting event can be minor, and underlying pathological processes may increase risk.
- VAD can present with subtle and intermittent neurological deficits, complicating early recognition.
Abstract:
Vertebral artery dissection is an unusual cause of stroke especially in children. The majority of dissections are thought to be caused by trauma although in many cases the trauma may be trivial. In other cases, certain underlying pathological processes are thought to be risk factors. We report a case of vertebral artery dissection in a 9-year-old child who presented with neurologic deficits suggestive of a posterior circulation stroke. The signs and symptoms of this unusual entity can be subtle and intermittent over a period of days to weeks; thus, making it very difficult to recognize. Therefore, it is important to consider the possibility of vertebral artery dissection in the differential diagnosis of neurologic deficits in children.