Stenosis of Azygos Anterior Cerebral Artery Results in Bilateral Anterior Cerebral Artery Strokes.

Abstract

HomeStrokeVol. 53, No. 10Stenosis of Azygos Anterior Cerebral Artery Results in Bilateral Anterior Cerebral Artery Strokes Free AccessCase ReportPDF/EPUBAboutView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toFree AccessCase ReportPDF/EPUBStenosis of Azygos Anterior Cerebral Artery Results in Bilateral Anterior Cerebral Artery Strokes Diana Yang, Brian Behdad Miremadi, Anton Mlikotic and Kassi Kronfeld Diana YangDiana Yang Correspondence to: Diana Yang, DO, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1000 W. Carson St, Building N-25, Torrance, CA 90502. Email E-mail Address: [email protected] https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6695-1771 Department of Neurology (D.Y., B.B.M., K.K.), Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA. Search for more papers by this author , Brian Behdad MiremadiBrian Behdad Miremadi Department of Neurology (D.Y., B.B.M., K.K.), Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA. Search for more papers by this author , Anton MlikoticAnton Mlikotic Department of Radiology (A.M.), Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA. Search for more papers by this author and Kassi KronfeldKassi Kronfeld Department of Neurology (D.Y., B.B.M., K.K.), Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA. Search for more papers by this author Originally published15 Jul 2022https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.040216Stroke. 2022;53:e448–e449Other version(s) of this articleYou are viewing the most recent version of this article. Previous versions: July 15, 2022: Ahead of Print KEY POINTAlthough much rarer than unilateral extremity weakness, bilateral lower extremity weakness may still result from a stroke—specifically due to vascular compromise of an azygos anterior cerebral artery.A 55-year-old female presented with 1 week of acute onset bilateral lower extremity weakness and reduced speech output. Examination was notable for spastic paralysis of lower extremities, trace weakness in bilateral shoulder abduction, and abulia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral anterior cerebral artery (ACA) territory strokes. Computed tomography angiography demonstrated absence of the anterior communicating artery, a hypoplastic right ACA precommunicating segment (A1), azygos continuation of a dominant left ACA, and focal stenosis in the lone A2 segment.ACA territory infarcts only account for 1.8% of cerebral infarcts, and bilateral ACA infarcts are even less common.1 Azygos ACA is a rare circle of Willis variant (0.3%–2% of the population) notable for an absent anterior communicating artery and one ACA postcommunicating segment (A2) feeding both ACA territories.2 Despite the initial difficult localization, bilateral lower extremity weakness may still result from a stroke, specifically due to vascular compromise of an azygos ACA (Figure).Download figureDownload PowerPointFigure. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and head computed tomography angiography. Bilateral anterior cerebral artery (ACA) territory diffusion restriction on magnetic resonance imaging diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequence (A) with corresponding hyperintensity on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence (B). Three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (C and D) demonstrates 2 anatomic variants: hypoplastic right A1 segment (short arrow) with dominant left ACA and an absent anterior communicating artery. There is significant focal stenosis in the A2 segment (long arrows).Article InformationSources of FundingNone.Disclosures None.FootnotesFor Sources of Funding and Disclosures, see page e449.Correspondence to: Diana Yang, DO, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1000 W. Carson St, Building N-25, Torrance, CA 90502. Email [email protected]lacounty.gov