Tortuous vertebrobasilar arteries causing cranial nerve syndromes: screening by computed tomography

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Cranial nerve syndromes often necessitate understanding the vertebrobasilar system and brainstem relationship.
• Conventional vertebral angiography is invasive, prompting the search for less invasive diagnostic methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate computed tomography (CT) as a diagnostic tool for vertebrobasilar ectasia.
• To compare CT findings with clinical symptomatology and angiography.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 250 patients with cranial nerve syndromes over 12 months.
• Diagnosis of vertebrobasilar ectasia using CT.
• Correlation of CT results with clinical presentation and conventional angiography.

Main Results:

• CT diagnosed vertebrobasilar ectasia in 12 out of 250 patients.
• CT findings were correlated with clinical symptoms and angiography.
• CT demonstrated satisfactory diagnostic capability.

Conclusions:

• Computed tomography (CT) is a sufficient diagnostic method for vertebrobasilar ectasia.
• CT provides a non-invasive alternative to angiography for diagnosing this condition.
• CT imaging aids in understanding the relationship between the vertebrobasilar system and brainstem in cranial nerve syndromes.