[Posttraumatic occlusion of the 2 vertebral arteries]

Initial radioclinical examination of a 24 year old patient following a road accident showed a hemomediastinum on computed tomography imaging. Digital subtraction angiography by the arterial route demonstrated integrity of abdominal aorta and occlusion of both vertebral arteries soon after their origin. This bilateral occlusion had failed to provoke any neurologic sign imputable to the vascular lesion. A review venous digital subtraction angiography examination two months later gave similar angiographic appearance. Emphasis is placed on the asymptomatic nature of this acute occlusion of the two vertebral arteries and on the value of digital subtraction angiography for vascular exploration of this type of disease.