[Pathological and etiological studies on cerebral infarction in the vertebrobasilar arterial system]

25 cases of cerebral infarcts in vertebrobasilar arterial system are reported. Those were divided into 4 groups: 1. Embolism (10), the causes were NBTE, pulmonary infarct, rheumatic or congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, respectively, and 2 unknown. 2. Thrombosis (5), the causes were arteriosclerosis, vascular malformations in the basal part of cerebrum. 3. Inflammatory infarcts (3), those were verified from tuberculosis, syphilis and aspergillosis respectively. 4. Lacunar infarcts (7), the causes were considered from hypertension. Pathologically, it was noticed that the location of embolism often situated at the terminal of basilar artery, and that if the embolism was completely obliterated, often a hemorrhagic infarction would follow. But the thrombosis in basilar artery, even the lumen was completely obliterated, any infarct would not follow, if the related collateral circulation was satisfactory. Clinically, the embolism in basilar artery often showed sudden onset, and that the symptoms of brain stem would aggravate quickly, but the thrombosis in basilar artery, if the collateral circulation was satisfactory, and symptom of brain stem might not follow.