Arteritis de células gigantes en el sistema vertebrobasilar, isquemias cerebelo-occipitales y parálisis III par: caso clínico / Giant cell arteritis of the vertebrobasilar system, posterior ischemia and palsy of the third nerve: report of one case

Giant cell arteritis is the most common vasculitis in patients aged over 50 years. We report an 89-year-old woman with significant weight loss and persistent frontal-occipital headaches lasting two months. The neurological examination at admission identified a decrease in visual acuity of the left eye, paralysis of the third cranial nerve of the right eye and alterations of body motility without objective signs of damage of the motor or sensitive pathways. Magnetic resonance imaging showed changes of the temporal artery wall and in both vertebral arteries, as well as bilateral cerebellar and occipital ischemic lesions. The Doppler ultrasound of the temporal arteries was compatible with Giant cell arteritis. Treatment with steroids was started. While receiving oral prednisone, the patient suffered new infarcts of the posterior territory, documented with a CAT scan.

Evaluation of the vertebral artery by 3D digital subtraction angiography / Evaluación de la arteria vertebral mediante angiografía por sustracción digital 3D

The objective of the present study is to determine origin, entry level to the transverse foramen and diameter according to sex and side through 3D angiographic images of seventy-nine vertebral arteries obtained using DSA imaging method. During radiological evaluation, axial, coronal and sagittal images of the artery were used. Data of our study was uploaded to SPSS 14.0 program and significance test and Mann Whitney-U test of the difference between two means were used to evaluate the data. While 76 of the vertebral arteries (96.2%) were originating from the subclavian artery, 3 of them (3.8%) were directly originating from aortic arch. In 67 of 76 the vertebral arteries originating from the subclavian artery were entering through C6, 6 through C7, 2 through C5 and one through C4 transverse foramen. It was seen that one of 3 the vertebral artery originating from aortic arch was entering through C6, one through C7 and the other through C4 transverse foramen. While the mean diameter of the vertebral artery was 3.88±0.71 mm at the right side (3.99 mm in men, 3.66 mm in women), the mean diameter at the left side was 4.15±1.05 mm (4.23 mm in men, 4.06 mm in women).

El objetivo fue determinar el origen, nivel de entrada y diámetro del foramen transverso, en función del sexo y lado sobre 79 arterias vertebrales a través de imágenes angiográficas 3D utilizando el método de formación de imágenes DSA. Durante la evaluación radiológica, se utilizaron imágenes axiales, coronales y sagitales de la arteria. Los datos se procesaron en el programa SPSS 14.0 con las pruebas U de Mann Whitney y de significancia para evaluar la diferencia entre los datos. Mientras que 76 de las arterias vertebrales (96,2%) se originaron de la arteria subclavia, 3 de ellas (3,8%) lo hicieron directamente desde el arco aórtico. En 67 de 76 arterias vertebrales, se observó el origin en la arteria subclavia a través de C6; 6 a través de C7, 2 a través de C5 y una a través del foramen transverso en C4. El diámetro medio de la arteria vertebral fue 3,88±0,71 mm en el lado derecho (3,99 mm en hombres y 3,66 mm en mujeres) y en el lado izquierdo fue 4,15±1,05 mm (4,23 mm en hombres y 4,06 mm en hombres).

study of the relationship between syncope attacks and diminished carotid and vertebral artery flow using doppler ultrasonography of cervical vessels

Syncope or drop attack is a common and potentially serious condition and prompt evaluation of the affected patients should be evaluated prompting for cardiac disease, seizure, structural lesions of the brain or peripheral nerves, as well as drug induced and metabolic disturbances. This study was conducted to evaluate carotid and vertebral arteries blood flow in patients with syncope in which other etiologies had been ruled out. This one-year retrospective case-control study involved 33 patients [case group] and 33 normal individuals [control group]. Carotid and vertebral arteries blood flow was measured in all subjects [ml/min] and SPSS was used for data analysis. Mean blood flow in vertebral arteries in the case group was significantly lower than in the control group [P<0.001], however mean carotid artery flow was not significantly different between them [P=0.58]. Based on our results and findings of some other studies, we recommend duplex ultrasonography of vertebral and cervical arteries in patients suffering from drop attacks, after ruling out the prominent etiologies, such as seizure, heart disease, etc

Hemifacial spasm resulting from vertebral artery dolichoectasia

A 32-year-old man presented with left hemifacial spasm. Neurophysiological findings revealed an absent ipsilateral R1 on blink reflex. An MRI showed a dolichoectatic left vertebral artery impinging on the root exit zone of the left facial nerve. Botulinum toxin infections relieved the manifestations of hemifacial spasm. This case demonstrates that MRI/MRA is an essential part of the work-up for hemifacial spasm, and shows that in accordance with the literature, vertebral dolichoectasia is an uncommon cause of hemifacial spasm

Multivessel cutting balloon angioplasty in a patient with type III nonspecific aortoarteritis.

A 23-year-old female patient with type III nonspecific aortoarteritis (Takayasu's arteritis) presented with multiple obstructive lesions and severe congestive heart failure. Large, cutting balloons 5-8 mm in diameter were used to dilate lesions in the abdominal aorta, both renal arteries, right common carotid artery, proximal left subclavian artery, and ostium of the left vertebral artery. Wide luminal expansion without residual stenosis, substantial dissection or need for adjunctive stenting was achieved at all six angioplasty sites. The use of cutting balloons appears suitable for treating obstructive lesions in aortoarteritis.

Dissecting intracranial vertebral artery aneurysms.

Dissecting aneurysms of the intracranial arteries are exceedingly rare vascular lesions that can produce acute cerebral or brain stem infarction in young healthy adults. They carry a high mortality rate. Two cases of dissecting vertebral artery aneurysms that presented with bleed, were successfully operated by trapping and excision of the dissecting segment. Both dissecting aneurysms were located distal to PICA origin. Both the patients developed post operative lower cranial nerve paresis and one developed lateral medullary syndrome, which improved subsequently. Dissecting aneurysms presenting with bleed should be surgically managed by trapping and excising the involved segment sparing the PICA origin or by interventional radiological techniques. Revascularisation procedures should be considered in addition to trapping of the main vertebral segment if PICA is involved in the trapped segment. The diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties associated with dissecting vertebral artery aneurysms and the controversies regarding their management have been reviewed.

Vertebral artery aneurysms.

Vertebral artery (VA) aneurysms are rare. We present our experience with three cases of VA aneurysms. Two aneurysms were located close to the origin of basilar artery while the third patient had a giant posterior inferior cerebellar artery aneurysm. These aneurysms were operated by the far lateral inferior suboccipital approach with good results.

Doppler sonography of vertebral arteries in young patients with vertigo - without apparent otogenic causes

Forty-eight young patients with vertigo without apparent otogenic causes were investigated to determine values of blood flow velocities and hemodynamic changes in extra-cranial vertebral arteries [VAS]. Color flow Doppler ultrasonography was used for the detection of a possible cause of vertigo in these cases. Electronystagmography was done to correlate its findings with that of vertebral arteries Doppler blood flow [VABF] and to study accuracy and reliability of this recent tool of investigation. A significant slow VABF was reported in vertigo group compared with the control group. Velocity of vertebral artery in 54.2% of the cases showed abnormal findings; a laterality group in 29.2% and the group with lower circulatory velocity in 25%. In about 67% of cases, the results of Doppler and ENG were in good agreement with each other. The ENT results of most of the cases of the laterality group were recorded to be of a central disorder

Doppler sonography of vertebral arteries in patients with tinnitus but normal hearing

Thirty-six patients with tinnitus but normal hearing [as proved by pure-tone audiometry and immittancemetry] were investigated to determine the values of the blood flow velocities and the hemodynamic changes in the extra-cranial vertebral arteries [VAS]- by color flow Doppler ultrasonography-for the detection of a possible cause of tinnitus in these cases. Further investigations were done to correlate their findings with that of vertebral arteries Doppler blood flow [VABF] and to study the accuracy and reliability of this recent tool of investigation. Abnormal Doppler findings could be detected in 15 cases. A significantly slow VABF was reported in tinnitus group compared with the control group