Vertebrobasilar artery dissection complicating cervico-dorsal intramedullary Ependymoma: a case report

ABSTRACT

Vertebral artery dissection [VAD] is an important cause of posterior circulation stroke in young adults. It could be either spontaneous or traumatic; initial symptoms are often non-specific, and diagnostic arteriography is not performed until neurological deficits are obvious. We describe a rare case of a patient who presented with cervico-dorsal intramedullary ependymoma, and developed brain stem infarction caused by vertebrobasilar artery dissection during her postoperative period, which was diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] and Magnetic Resonance Angiography [MRA]. Although vertebrobasilar artery dissection is rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of brain stem infarction, and urgent MRI / MRA should be done as it is a reliable diagnostic tool and less invasive compared to cerebral angiogram