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Spontaneous dissection associated with proximal vertebral artery anomaly
K Kimura1, M Yonemitsu, Y Hashimoto
1Department of Cerebrovascular Disease, Kumamoto City Hospital, Kumamoto.
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|December 10, 1997
Summary
A rare proximal vertebral artery anomaly, where two arteries branched from the subclavian artery, was linked to spontaneous vertebral artery dissection. This anatomical variation may increase the risk of such dissections.
Area of Science:
- Vascular neurology
- Cerebrovascular anatomy
Background:
- Lateral medullary syndrome (Wallenberg syndrome) can result from vertebral artery dissection.
- Vertebral artery dissection is a significant cause of stroke in younger individuals.
Observation:
- A 47-year-old male presented with acute lateral medullary syndrome and severe posterior cervical pain.
- Cerebral angiography revealed a unique proximal vertebral artery anomaly: two separate arterial branches originated from the right subclavian artery, converging to form the right vertebral artery.
- One of these anomalous branches exhibited both stenosis and luminal dilatation.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with spontaneous dissection of the vertebral artery.
- The identified anatomical variation was classified as a proximal vertebral artery anomaly.
Implications:
- Proximal vertebral artery anomalies may represent a predisposing risk factor for spontaneous vertebral artery dissection.
- Understanding these anatomical variations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management of cerebrovascular events.