Brain Infarction ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Computed Tomography Angiography ; Constriction, Pathologic ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Vertebral Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

We report a healthy patient with postpartum headache and neck stiffness which were diagnosed as symptoms of pseudoaneurysm of vertebral artery. She had received a Cesarean section under the spinal anesthesia, and complaint of headache and neck stiffness. Epidural blood patches were done twice, but symptoms persisted. Eight days later, she experienced sensory disturbance and emergent laminectomy was done. When persistent postpartum headache occurs after epidural blood patch, more precise differential diagnosis should be made and considering other possible pathologies.
Anesthesia, Spinal ; Aneurysm, False ; Blood Patch, Epidural* ; Cesarean Section ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Headache ; Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal* ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Neck ; Pathology ; Post-Dural Puncture Headache ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Vertebral Artery

A 61-year-old female presented with 4 years history of left-sided hemifacial spasm. Head MRI and angiography indicated left vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm which compressed ipsilateral cranial nerves Ⅶ and Ⅷ. Microvascular decompression was performed. The dissecting aneurysm was pushed apart and the distal part of the parent artery was adhered to the dura on the petrosum. The compressed nerves were totally decompressed. The symptom of facial spasm was completely resolved immediately after surgery and did not recur during 6 months of follow up.
Cerebral Angiography ; Facial Nerve ; pathology ; Female ; Hemifacial Spasm ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Vertebral Artery Dissection ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility, safety and efficacy of endovascular reconstructive treatment by multiple overlapping stents with or without coils.

METHODSTotally 17 patients of vertebrobasilar fusiform aneurysms treated by multiple overlapping stents with or without coils between September 2011 and September 2015 in Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. There were 15 male and 2 female patients with mean age of (47±13) years. Clinical manifestations included subarachnoid hemorrhage in 5 patients, cerebral ischemia or infarction in the posterior circulation in 5 patients, mass effect accompanied with brainstem infarction in 1 patients, headache or dizziness in 4, and incidental findings in 2 patients. Aneurysm located in intracranial vertebral artery in 11 patients, vertebrobasilar junction in 2 patients, and basilar trunk in 4 patients. Mean aneurysmal size was 18.5 mm×8.0 mm(length×width).

RESULTSSole stenting with overlapping stents was performed in 8 patients, and overlapping stents with coils was applied in 9 patients. Post-procedural hemorrhage occurred in a patient with a giant basilar trunk fusiform aneurysm and led to death. The 16 surviving patients were clinically followed up for a mean of 21.1 months. One patient had a modified Rankin score of 4, and the other patients had a good recovery. Among 15 patients with a mean angiographic follow-up of 8.6 months, 9 patients had their aneurysms further thrombosed, 3 patients were stable, and 3 patients with a recurred aneurysm. Final complete occlusion was achieved in 7 patients.

CONCLUSIONReconstructive treatment by overlapping stents with or without coils is feasible and relative safe in vertebrobasilar fusiform aneurysms.

Adult ; Endovascular Procedures ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebral Artery ; pathology

BACKGROUNDThere are few studies for evaluating wall characteristics of intracranial vertebral artery hypoplasia (VAH). The aim of this study was to determine wall characteristics of VAH with three-dimensional volumetric isotropic turbo spin echo acquisition (3D VISTA) images and differentiate between acquired atherosclerotic stenosis and VAH.

METHODSThirty patients with suspicious VAH by luminograms were retrospectively enrolled between January 2014 and February 2015. The patients were classified as "acquired atherosclerotic stenosis" or "VAH" based on 3D VISTA images. The wall characteristics of VAH were assessed to determine the presence of atherosclerotic lesions, and the patients were classified into two subgroups (VAH with atherosclerosis and VAH with normal wall). Wall characteristics of basilar arteries and vertebral arteries were also assessed. The clinical and wall characteristics were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSFive of 30 patients with suspicious VAH were finally diagnosed as acquired atherosclerotic stenosis by 3D VISTA images. 25 patients were finally diagnosed as VAH including 16 (64.00%) patients with atherosclerosis and 9 (36.00%) patients with normal wall. In the 16 patients with atherosclerosis, plaque was found in 9 patients, slight wall thickening in 6 patients, and thrombus and wall thickening in 1 patient. Compared with VAH patients with normal wall, VAH patients with atherosclerosis showed atherosclerotic basilar arteries and dominant vertebral arteries more frequently (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSThree-dimensional VISTA images enable differentiation between the acquired atherosclerotic stenosis and VAH. VAH was also prone to atherosclerotic processes.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertebral Artery ; abnormalities ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathomorphological change of the atlanto-occipital segment of vertebral artery (V3 part) related with cervical vertigo.

METHODSFrom June 1999 to November 2011, the pathomorphological change of the atlanto-occipital segment of vertebral artery were observed in 1680 patients with cervical vertigo using 3D-CTA technology. The clinical data of these patients were analyzed. There were 783 males and 897 females, aged from 22 to 70 years old with an average of 52.8 years old. Doppler examination showed vertebral basilar artery flow velocity to speed up or slow down.

RESULTSThe blood vessel of 3360 branches were detected in 1680 patients and 2778 branches were detected out vascular anomaly. And 829 branches were in V1 segment, 421 were in V2, 328 were in V3, 1190 were in V4. The pathomorphological changes in the atlanto-occipital segment (V3) of vertebral artery included angiospasm, congenital absence, abnormal exit, localized stenosis.

CONCLUSIONThere are 4 kinds of pathomorphological changes in the atlanto-occipital segment of vertebral artery related with cervical vertigo. The 3D-CTA result can be used to judge prognosis and adopt reasonable treatment for the patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Atlanto-Occipital Joint ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vertebral Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Vertigo ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical outcomes of the posterior C1,2 screw-rod combined with C2 unilateral translaminar screw and contralateral pedicle screw fixation and autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion in treating upper cervical instability with vertebral artery variations.

METHODSFrom June 2008 to December 2012, the clinical data of 12 patients with upper cervical instability underwent C1 lateral mass screws-C2 unilateral laminar and contralateral pedicle screws fixation combined with autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion were analyzed retrospectively. There were 8 males and 4 females with a mean age of 47.5 years (ranged, 16 to 77 years). Patients suffered from occipitocervical activity limitation of motion with pain or not, VAS was 0-7 points with an average of (3.50 +/- 2.71) points. Unilateral vertebral artery hypoplasia was demonstrated by vertebral arteriography (VAG) or CTA in all patients. Cervical X-ray and CT scans were done within 7 days after surgery in order to confirm internal fixation position. Internal fixation loosening and breakage, reduction losing, bone fusion ratio were observed during follow-up.

RESULTSNo nerves and vertebral artery injuries occurred during operation. Cervical pain obviously decreased and VAS was (0.92 +/- 0.90) points. Cervical alignment of 12 patients had well-recovered by X-ray while Atlantoaxial ventral lamina cortex of 1 case was encroached by CT scan without neurological symptom. All patients were followed up for 6 months to 3 years, no internal fixation loosening and breakage, reduction losing were found. All patients obtained bone fusion in 6-12 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONPosterior C1 lateral mass screws-C2 unilateral laminar and contralateral pedicle screws fixation combined with autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion can achieve biomechanical stability and raise the successful rate of bone fusion, while avoiding the risk of vertebral artery injury and overcoming the insufficient of bone fusion during bilateral laminar screws placement as well. Posterior C1 lateral mass screws fixation is a safe and effective additional method in treating upper cervical instability with vertebral artery variations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Joint Instability ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vertebral Artery ; pathology

Pseudo-vestibular neuritis is a central pathology of acute vestibular syndrome, characterized by unidirectional nystagmus mimicking acute peripheral vestibulophaty. We report a 39-year-old female patient who developed cerebellar infarction with isolated vertigo, spontaneous nystagmus, a positive head thrust test, and unilateral canal paresis in the contralesional side. The patient had no vascular risk factors. A diffusion-weighted image of the brain showed infarction of medial branch of posterior inferior and superior cerebellar artery on the left side. A magnetic resonance angiography of neck disclosed a wide range of diffused severe stenosis and narrowing of right and left vertebral arteries, respectively. This case suggests the possibility of vestibular ischemia masking the central pathology in isolated vertigo.
Adult ; Arteries ; Brain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Embolism ; Female ; Head Impulse Test ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Masks ; Neck ; Neuritis* ; Nystagmus, Pathologic ; Paresis* ; Pathology ; Risk Factors ; Vertebral Artery ; Vertebral Artery Dissection* ; Vertigo ; Vestibular Neuronitis

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of vertebral artery system in the patients with sudden deafness by using digital subtraction angiography (DSA). METHOD: Thirty-four cases of sudden deafness with vertebrobasilar artery ischemia confirmed by the color doppler ultrasound were undergone DSA in both side. The characteristics of vertebral artery, basal artery and before-cerebellum artery were analysis before specific therapy. RESULT: There is no related complication were occurred among 34 cases. Side vertebral artery was blocked in 2 cases, atherosclerosis was found in 5 cases. The right cerebellar artery anterior and the left cerebellar artery posterior were found filling defect or minor change in 29.4% (10/34) and 35.3% (12/34) of the patients, respectively. The right and the left arteria auditiva interna were found filling defect or minor change in 64.7% (22/34) and 73.5% (25/34) of the patients, respectively. After specific therapy, 8 cases were cured, the hearing of 9 cases were markedly improved, the hearing of 12 cases were improved efficient and 5 patients have no hearing improvement, the total effective rate was 85.3%. CONCLUSION The arteria auditiva interna and inferior anterior arteria cerebelli caused inner ear ischemia were found in the patients with sudden deafness. The using of vasodilator may have satisfactory and positive curative effect in the therapy of sudden deafness.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography ; Vertebral Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Young Adult

We found a case of hypoplasia of vertebral artery with fibromuscular dysplasia in an 82-yr-old Korean female cadaver during a routine dissection course. In the present case, intracranial hypoplasia in left vertebral artery and bilateral origin of posterior inferior cerebellar artery at the vertebrobasilar junction were recognized. Histopathologically, left vertebral artery showed intimal type of fibromuscular dysplasia both in its extracranial and intracranial courses. These results indicate that the association of fibromuscular dysplasia and hypoplasia does exist in the vertebral artery, although the etiologies are not verified yet.
Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia/*pathology ; Heart Ventricles/abnormalities/*pathology ; Humans ; Republic of Korea ; Vertebral Artery/*pathology