[A case of basilar artery stenosis treated by stent placement]

Symptomatic basilar artery stenosis invariably has poor prognosis owing to limited treatment options. Modernized stent system delivery technology has paved the way for treating tortuous vascular segments of intracranial system. The authors hereby report on the use of intracranial stent to treat basilar artery stenosis. A-61-year old man presented with one month history of recurrent dizziness and dysarthria. He remained symptomatic despite having oral antiplatelets. Magnetic resonance image showed pontine ischemic lesion. Stenosis of proximal portion of basilar artery was detected by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Although balloon angioplasty was performed, restenosis was demonstrated by MRA four months later. Stenting was then performed with excellent angiographic results, and there were no procedural complications. The availability of new flexible intravascular stents, allowing access to tortuous proximal intracranial vessels, provides a new therapeutic approach to basilar artery stenosis cases. However long term follow-up is advised to assess the durability of this approach.