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Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Comprehensive Endovascular and Open Surgical Management of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations
Published on: October 20, 2017
CT chest-cerebral angiography for basilar artery occlusion caused by pulmonary arteriovenous malformation
Natsumi Nakai1, Toshihisa Ichiba1, Masako Hata1
1Emergency Medicine, Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.
Early diagnosis of basilar artery occlusion (BAO) based only on clinical findings is challenging. We present a fully recovered case of BAO caused by pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) that was diagnosed early using a protocol for CT angiography (CTA) and promptly treated with endovascular therapy (EVT). A woman in her 50s complained of vertigo with normal level of consciousness (LOC). On arrival, her LOC decreased to a Grass Coma Scale score of 12, and we performed a CT chest-cerebral angiography protocol. Head CTA showed BAO, and an intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was administered, followed by EVT. Chest contrast-enhanced CT showed PAVM in segment 10 of the left lung, which was treated with coil embolisation. For patients with a complaint of vertigo, BAO should be suspected, even if they have an initially normal LOC. A CT chest-cerebral angiography protocol is useful for prompt diagnosis and treatment of BAO and can reveal undetermined causes.
Early diagnosis of basilar artery occlusion (BAO) based only on clinical findings is challenging. We present a fully recovered case of BAO caused by pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) that was diagnosed early using a protocol for CT angiography (CTA) and promptly treated with endovascular therapy (EVT). A woman in her 50s complained of vertigo with normal level of consciousness (LOC). On arrival, her LOC decreased to a Grass Coma Scale score of 12, and we performed a CT chest-cerebral angiography protocol. Head CTA showed BAO, and an intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was administered, followed by EVT. Chest contrast-enhanced CT showed PAVM in segment 10 of the left lung, which was treated with coil embolisation. For patients with a complaint of vertigo, BAO should be suspected, even if they have an initially normal LOC. A CT chest-cerebral angiography protocol is useful for prompt diagnosis and treatment of BAO and can reveal undetermined causes.
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