title: Compression of the C-2 root by a rare anomalous ectatic vertebral artery. Case report.
abstract: The authors report a symptomatic congenitally anomalous ectatic vertebral artery not passing through the transverse foramen of the atlas (C-1), but instead piercing the dura mater below the posterior arch of the C-1 in the atlantoaxial (C1-2) interlaminar space. This occurrence is exceptionally rare, but in this case it was uniquely associated with occipital neuralgia due to vascular compression of the C-2 root. Microvascular decompression was curative. Neuroradiological and surgical findings are presented and their implications discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Preston Hospital, England.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Parekh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Gurusinghe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertolis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007714:Klippel-Feil Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging