Spontaneous Vertebral Artery Dissection Research Articles

Morphological Features of the Vertebrobasilar System Predict Ischemic Stroke Risk in Spontaneous Vertebral Artery Dissection.

The vertebral artery's morphological characteristics are crucial in spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (sVAD). We aimed to investigate morphologic features related to ischemic stroke (IS) and develop a novel prediction model. Out of 126 patients, 93 were finally analyzed. We constructed 3D models and morphological analyses. Patients were randomly classified into training and validation cohorts (3:1 ratio). Variables selected by LASSO - including five morphological features and five clinical characteristics - were used to develop prediction model in the training cohort. The model exhibited a high area under the curve (AUC) of 0.944 (95%CI, 0.862-0.984), with internal validation confirming its consistency (AUC = 0.818, 95%CI, 0.597-0.948). Decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated clinical usefulness. Morphological features significantly contribute to risk stratification in sVAD patients. Our novel developed model, combining interdisciplinary parameters, is clinically useful for predicting IS risk. Further validation and in-depth research into the hemodynamics related to sVAD are necessary.

High pillow and spontaneous vertebral artery dissection: A case-control study implicating "Shogun pillow syndrome".

The underlying causes of spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (sVAD) remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to determine whether high-pillow usage is associated with an increased risk of sVAD and evaluate the frequency of sVAD attributable to high-pillow usage. This case-control study identified patients with sVAD and age- and sex-matched non-sVAD controls (case-to-control ratio: 1:1) treated at a certified comprehensive stroke center in Japan between 2018 and 2023. The pillow height used at the onset of the index disease was measured and classified into three categories between 12 and 15 cm boundaries. Univariable logistic regression was performed to assess the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of high-pillow usage for sVAD development. A subgroup of sVAD attributable to high-pillow usage was defined with the following three conditions: high-pillow usage (⩾12 or ⩾15 cm); no minor preceding trauma; and wake-up onset. Fifty-three patients with sVAD and 53 non-sVAD controls (42% women, median age: 49 years) were identified. High-pillow usage (⩾12 and ⩾15 cm) was more common in the sVAD group than in the non-sVAD group (34 vs 15%; OR = 2.89; 95%CI = 1.13-7.43 and 17 vs 1.9%; OR = 10.6; 95%CI = 1.30-87.3, respectively). The subgroup of sVAD attributed to high-pillow usage (⩾12 and ⩾15 cm) was found in 11.3% (95%CI = 2.7%-19.8%) and 9.4% (95%CI = 1.5%-17.3%), respectively. High-pillow usage was associated with an increased risk of sVAD and accounted for approximately 10% of all sVAD cases. This tentative subgroup of sVAD may represent a distinct spectrum of disease-Shogun pillow syndrome.

Abstract WP228: Vertebral Artery Configuration as a Risk Factor for Dissection in Children

Introduction: Arterial ischemic strokes are estimated to occur in 1.2 to 8 per 100,000 children per year with 15-22% occurring in the posterior circulation. Vertebral artery dissection(VAD) is a known cause of posterior circulation ischemic stroke in approx 7% of cases. Pediatric Bow Hunter syndrome, usually presents distinctively with VAD and stroke. It most commonly involves the V3 segment. In 2021, Braga et all proposed a new protocol for management for children with spontaneous VAD.They noted 2 different configurations of the vertebral artery. In this study we go on the explore these different configurations further and their role in spontaneous VAD. Aim & Hypothesis: Two configurations of the vertebral artery at the V3 segment were observed. Type A and Type B depending on the angle of curvature of the V3 segment. Type A config. is more linear with > 110 degree of angulation. Type B config. is angulated with 2 < 110 degree angles. We aim to investigate these configurations in patients without dissection vs those with vertebral artery dissection. We hypothesized that Type B configuration would be more prevalent in patients with spontaneous VAD. Methods: Retrospective chart review conducted at UTSW medical center. MRA/IR angiograms reviewed of 49 patients; 19 with spontaneous VAD and 30 with no vertebral pathology. Results: 79% of the total dissected vessels(19/24) had configuration Type B and 20.83%(5/24) had configuration Type A. In the control group of 30 patients with no VAD, TypeB was present in 25.4%(13/51) and configuration A in 74.5% (38/51). Type B configuration had a statistically significant higher prevalence in V3 dissection group. (p=<0.001) Conclusion: Type B configuration of the V3 segment would warrant further investigation in the right setting.

Spontaneous vertebral artery stenosis, dissection and cerebellar infarction in a gentleman while playing bowling.

Background: An increased incidence of vertebral artery dissection has recently become a recognized cause of acute stroke for about 1/5 of strokes in young patients. Case Presentation: A male in his 30s presented to the emergency department with sudden onset of severe vertigo, vomiting, and dizziness while he was playing bowling. The symptoms started when he suddenly twisted his neck while throwing the ball towards pins. Initial diagnosis of central vertigo led to performing plain CT head and CT head angiogram, which demonstrated non-occlusive extradural left vertebral artery dissection. Following CT scans, an MRI head, and MRA head and neck were performed which confirmed the CT diagnosis and also showed left posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory infarcts with micro haemorrhages. The patient was started on dual antiplatelet medications which was continued for 6 months with a follow up MRI/MRA scan of head and neck. Conclusion: This appears to be a unique case where sudden twisting of the neck possibly resulted in vertebral artery dissection and cerebellar infarction. Hence, it is vital to be aware of sports related presentation resulting in sudden neck movements and tear in vertebral artery causing dissection.

Spontaneous vertebral artery stenosis, dissection and cerebellar infarction in a gentleman while playing bowling.

Spontaneous vertebral artery stenosis, dissection and cerebellar infarction in a gentleman while playing bowling.

Acute left vertebral artery dissection and right vertebral artery occlusion in a middle-aged man: A case report

Spontaneous left Vertebral Artery Dissection (VAD) is an uncommon but very important etiology of acute posterior circulation stroke. We reported a case of a 43 years old man, who came with the complaint of chest pain with sudden onset, severe sweating

Abnormal flow pattern of low wall shear stress and high oscillatory shear index in spontaneous vertebral artery dissection with vertebral artery hypoplasia.

Spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (sVAD) might tend to develop in vertebral artery hypoplasia (VAH) with hemodynamic dysfunction and it is crucial to assess hemodynamics in sVAD with VAH to investigate this hypothesis. This retrospective study aimed to quantify hemodynamic parameters in patients with sVAD with VAH. Patients who had suffered ischemic stroke due to an sVAD of VAH were enrolled in this retrospective study. The geometries of 14 patients (28 vessels) were reconstructed using Mimics and Geomagic Studio software from CT angiography (CTA). ANSYS ICEM and ANSYS FLUENT were utilized for mesh generation, set boundary conditions, solve governing equations, and perform numerical simulations. Slices were obtained at the upstream area, dissection or midstream area and downstream area of each VA. The blood flow patterns were visualized through instantaneous streamline and pressure at peak systole and late diastole. The hemodynamic parameters included pressure, velocity, time-averaged blood flow, time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), endothelial cell action potential (ECAP), relative residence time (RRT) and time-averaged nitric oxide production rate (TARNO). Significant focal increased velocity was present in the dissection area of steno-occlusive sVAD with VAH compared to other nondissected areas (0.910 m/s vs. 0.449 vs. 0.566, p < 0.001), while focal slow flow velocity was observed in the dissection area of aneurysmal dilatative sVAD with VAH according to velocity streamlines. Steno-occlusive sVAD with VAH arteries had a lower time-averaged blood flow (0.499 cm3/s vs. 2.268, p < 0.001), lower TAWSS (1.115 Pa vs. 2.437, p = 0.001), higher OSI (0.248 vs. 0.173, p = 0.006), higher ECAP (0.328 Pa-1 vs. 0.094, p = 0.002), higher RRT (3.519 Pa-1 vs. 1.044, p = 0.001) and deceased TARNO (104.014 nM/s vs. 158.195, p < 0.001) than the contralateral VAs. Steno-occlusive sVAD with VAH patients had abnormal blood flow patterns of focal increased velocity, low time-averaged blood flow, low TAWSS, high OSI, high ECAP, high RRT and decreased TARNO. These results provide a good basis for further investigation of sVAD hemodynamics and support the applicability of the CFD method in testing the hemodynamic hypothesis of sVAD. More detailed hemodynamic conditions with different stages of sVAD are warranted in the future.

Unilateral Upper Cervical Posterior Spinal Cord Infarction Caused by Spontaneous Bilateral Vertebral Artery Dissection.

A 41-year-old woman complained of sudden numbness of the left face and limbs without neck pain, paraparesis, urinary retention, or constipation. Neurologic examination revealed onion-skin pattern hemifacial dysesthesia and disturbance of touch and proprioception sensation of the left limbs. T2WI and Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) showed left posterior spinal cord infarction at the C1 level (Figure, A–D). Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) demonstrated stenosis of bilateral vertebral arteries (Figure, E–F). High-resolution MRI revealed the high signals of intramural hematoma in bilateral vertebral arteries indicating the diagnosis of dissection (Figure, G-J). Isolated posterior spinal cord infarction is rare, and vertebral artery dissection should be considered as an etiologic mechanism.1

Clinical and radiological features of medullary infarction caused by spontaneous vertebral artery dissection

Background and purposeMedullary infarction (MI) caused by spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (sVAD) is an important type of stroke. It is important to distinguish sVAD from other causes of stroke since...

Funny turns in Young badminton player: A case of cerebellar infarction secondary to vertebral artery dissection

Spontaneous vertebral artery dissection is a rare cause of cerebellar infarction. Common presentations of cerebellar artery infarction are dizziness and ataxia. We are reporting a case of a 31-year-old male who presented with acute onset dizziness while playing badminton, who was diagnosed as cerebellar vermis infarction secondary to vertebral artery dissection.

Postpartum Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion Secondary to Vertebral Artery Dissection. Case Report and Literature Review.

Female patients in the peripartum and postpartum periods have an increased risk of stroke than nonpregnant women. Cerebrovascular complications of pregnancy represent a significant cause of maternal mortality and morbidity and are potentially disabling. Acute basilar artery occlusion secondary to spontaneous vertebral artery dissection in the postpartum period is an infrequent entity and a major diagnostic and treatment challenge. In the present case, a 37-year-old female patient, eight weeks after caesarean delivery, presented with a history of sudden cervical pain, followed by headache and dizziness. Some hours later, she was found unconscious by her family and was transferred to the emergency department, where a neurological status assessment suggested vertebrobasilar stroke. The imagistic workup revealed right vertebral artery dissection and basilar artery occlusion without constituted ischemic lesions. The patient underwent endovascular intervention with dilation of the narrowed vertebral artery and stent retriever basilar artery thrombectomy, with a favourable clinical outcome. This report first presents the details of this case and the relevant literature data on postpartum arterial dissections and the subsequent ischemic complications and available treatment options.

Presentation of cerebral and cervical arterial dissections in Botucatu, Brazil: case series.

Spontaneous dissection of the cervical and cerebral arteries is an important cause of stroke and disability in young patients. In this report, the authors present a case series of patients with spontaneous carotid, vertebral, or cerebral artery dissection who underwent digital angiography. A review of the published literature on this subject is also presented.

Dissecting spontaneous vertebral artery aneurysms (V4). Endovascular Reconstructive techniques with fd stents. Case series

Background: Spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (SVAD) is rare and occurs in young patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (HSA) or stroke (3 to 5%). Only 11% occur in the V4 segment of VA. Its treatment changed in parallel with the progress of endovascular technology. Material and Methods: Six consecutive cases of dissecting vertebral artery aneurysms V4 are reported. All males with mean age 35 years. Clinical presentation with headache and neckache in all cases, ischemic stroke and SAH one case each. All patients underwent reconstructive endovascular treatment with FD stent, with or without microcoils. Results: All patients were under dual antiplatelet therapy before EVT (Aspirin 200mg and clopidogrel 75mg or ticagrelor 180mg/day). Reconstructive technique was performed with FD stent in two cases, associated of microcoils and “jailing technique” in two cases or multiple telescoping stents in three cases. Occlusion of the aneurysm and arterial permeability were found in long term follow up in 5 cases. In a case of fusiform aneurysm, there was late thrombosis of the telescoped stents and arterial occlusion without clinical repercussion. Conclusion: Due to the high rate of surgical morbidity, endovascular treatment became the first line for this kind of aneurysm. The reconstruction using a flow bypass and device reconstructive technique is an attractive alternative, showing long-term favorable clinical and angiographic outcomes with the ability to maintain patency of the parental and lateral branch arteries.

FIVE CASES OF ACUTE HYPOACUSIA/DEAFNESS SECONDARY TO ARTERIAL AND VENOUS CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE

I present five cases of acute onset hypoacusia (four unilateral and one bilateral), all of different physiopathological mechanisms and vascular territories, secondary to either arterial or venous causes. First case is a 39-year-old male with Left Middle Inferior Pontine Syndrome (Foville Syndrome) with associated Vertebro-Basilar Insufficiency (VBI) secondary to Spontaneous Vertebral Artery Dissection (SVAD) and secondary hypoacusia. Case two, is a 76-year-old female with right Anterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (AICA) Syndrome generating a lateral pontine infarct with hypoacusia as an initial presentation. Case three, is a 77-year-old male presenting a left Superior Cerebellar Artery (SCA) infarct with hypoacusia as an initial presentation. Case four, a 79-year-old female patient presenting sudden onset bilateral hypoacusia secondary to Basilar Artery (BA) thrombosis. Finally, case five, is a 23-year-old post-partum female presenting a right Transverse Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST) presenting with acute hypoacusia as only clinical manifestation. Keywords: hypoacusia, deafness, cerebrovascular disease.

Spinal cord infarction presenting as Brown-S\xe9quard syndrome from spontaneous vertebral artery dissection: a case report and literature review

BackgroundSpinal cord infarction (SCI) is rarely caused by vertebral artery dissection (VAD), which is an important cause of posterior circulation stroke in young and middle-aged patients. We report the case of a middle-aged patient without obvious risk factors for atherosclerosis who had SCI from right VAD.Case presentationAn otherwise healthy 40-year-old man presented with acute right-sided body weakness. Six days earlier, he had experienced posterior neck pain without obvious inducement. Neurologic examination revealed a right Brown-Séquard syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head was normal. Further, cervical spine MRI showed spinal cord infarction (SCI) on the right at the C1-C3 level. Three-dimensional high-resolution MRI (3D HR-MRI) volumetric isotropic turbo spin echo acquisition (VISTA) scan showed evidence of vertebral artery dissection (VAD). The patient was significantly relieved of symptoms and demonstrated negative imaging findings after therapy with anticoagulation (AC) and antiplatelets (AP) for 3 months.ConclusionsThe possibility of vertebral artery dissection (VAD) should be considered in the case of young and middle-aged patients without obvious risk factors for atherosclerosis. Furthermore the VISTA black blood sequence plays an important role in the pathological diagnosis of vertebral artery stenosis. Early correct diagnosis and active therapy are crucial to the prognosis.

Spontaneous Vertebral Artery Dissection and Thrombosis Presenting as Lateral Medullary Syndrome.

Spontaneous Vertebral Artery Dissection and Thrombosis Presenting as Lateral Medullary Syndrome.

Association between morphologic subtypes of vertebral artery dissection and vertebral artery hypoplastic appearance

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between vertebral artery hypoplasia (VAH) and the morphologic types of spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (sVAD) and to assess the chronological changes of VAH after sVAD. Methods and materialsIn this retrospective study, we included 208 patients with 216 sVADs which were diagnosed between January 2003 and June 2017 at two tertiary hospitals. Morphologic types of sVAD were classified into aneurysmal dilatation without stenosis, pearl-and-string appearance, and steno-occlusion without aneurysmal dilatation. Baseline clinical characteristics and sVAD types were compared according to the presence of VAH on initial imaging. For 143 sVAD patients with follow-up imaging available, chronological changes of VAH and their associations with sVAD types were also evaluated. ResultVAH was detected in 29 (13.9%) subjects: 18 (8.7%) with ipsilateral VAH and 11 (5.3%) with contralateral VAH to the sVAD site. Primary lesion shape was statistically associated with the presence of VAH (P = 0.001); steno-occlusion without dilatation was more frequently observed in the ipsilateral VAH group (44.4%) than the no-VAH group (20.9%) or contralateral VAH group (0%). Of a total 143 sVAD patients with follow-up imaging available, VAH-like diffuse VA narrowing was newly observed in seven patients and four patients who were initially classified into the VAH group showed their VAH-like appearances resolved. ConclusionsThe presence of VAH may be associated with the morphologic subtype of sVAD and the VA diameter can dynamically change, making it possible for the VAH-like appearance to be induced after a sVAD event.

Conservative Management of Unruptured Spontaneous Intracranial Vertebral Artery Dissection

The present study investigated the clinical and morphological characteristics of the vertebrobasilar artery associated with vascular healing in patients with unruptured spontaneous intracranial vertebral artery (VA) dissection (VAD). We retrospectively reviewed the data from 69 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of unruptured VAD who were treated conservatively for ≥21 days from November 2003 to February 2018 at our institute. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and morphological findings of VAD. Of the 69 patients, vascular normalization of VAD was observed in 26, including a significantly greater proportion of women and nonsmokers (P= 0.04 and P= 0.034, respectively). Patients with normalization of VAD had a significantly lower proportion of posteroinferior cerebellar artery involvement and a smaller vertebral-union-basilar angle of the nondissecting VA, smaller vertebral-union-vertebral angle, distal dissection from the VA union, and less basilar artery bending. Luminal irregularity/steno-occlusion of the VAD on the initial images exhibited vascular resolution/normalization in 25 patients (67.6%) on subsequent images. The morphology of VAD in the dominant or codominant VAs included fusiform/aneurysmal dilatation in 25 patients (78.1%). The morphology in the nondominant VA included luminal irregularity/steno-occlusion in 23 patients (62.2%). Spontaneous vascular normalization of unruptured spontaneous intracranial VAD might be associated with female sex, nonsmoking, no posteroinferior cerebellar artery involvement, a smaller vertebral-union-basilar angle and vertebral-union-vertebral angle, distal dissection from the VA union, less basilar artery bending, and luminal irregularity/steno-occlusion.

Spontaneous Vertebral Artery Dissection Presenting with Crescendo TIAs and Headache

We present the case of a man in his thirties who had attended the emergency department with complaint of a distressing headache and associated intermittent facial droop with occasional slurred speech. The patient’s symptoms were bizarre in their nature as they were random, not sustained and he had long intervals when he was asymptomatic and was his normal self. During the course of admission his symptoms evolved resulting in neurological deficits which were more sustained, prompting the need for further imaging beyond the initial plain CT brain which showed no abnormality. This led to the diagnosis of vertebral artery dissection (VAD) complicated with an ischaemic stroke in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery distribution (PICA) on MRI/MRA. Dual anti-platelet treatment was commenced with the patient attaining gradual symptomatic improvement prior to discharge. He has reported some degree of neurological sequelae which he described as intermittent poor coordination on follow up visit in clinic after discharge.

Spontaneous Intracranial Vertebral Artery Dissection in a 2-Year-Old Child Diagnosed with High-Resolution MRI: a Case Report

Spontaneous Intracranial Vertebral Artery Dissection in a 2-Year-Old Child Diagnosed with High-Resolution MRI: a Case Report