Endovascular coil embolization of parent artery for giant intracranial basilar artery dissection: a case report

Isolated dissection of the basilar artery (BA) is rare and still a big challenge regarding treatment. The suitable therapeutic strategies for dissection of the BA remain controversial. We report the case of a young patient with a giant unruptured dissection of the BA successfully treated by endovascular coil embolization. A 14-year-old male who underwent computed tomography (CT) scan following a minor head trauma was incidentally found to have a lesion located anterior to brain stem. Further imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were consistent with a diagnosis of giant unruptured dissection of the BA. The patient was initially observed conservatively. The follow-up DSA obtained 3 months later revealed extension of the dissection inferiorly to involve the left VA. The dissection expanded at the conjunction of VAs in the shape of ball. Therefore, coil embolization to occlude BA at the bottom of aneurysm was performed as a further treatment. Follow-up DSA 6 months later demonstrated complete obliteration of the dissection and good compensative perfusion from extensively collateral circulation. For young patients with isolated dissection of the BA, coil embolization to occlude BA at the bottom of aneurysm might be tolerable and effective.