title: Extracranial internal carotid and vertebral artery dissections: angiographic spectrum, course and prognosis.
abstract: We reviewed the clinical and radiological findings of 93 consecutive patients with 111 extracranial internal carotid (ICAD) and vertebral artery (VAD) dissections and one concomitant intracranial VAD; 83% of the patients had unilateral and 17% multiple vessel dissections. The diagnosis was made by intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography in 92 patients and MR angiography in one. Follow-up angiography was performed in 77 cases (83%): of 49 initially stenotic arteries, 40 became completely or almost completely normal, while three showed slight improvement. Of 30 initially occluded arteries, nine had completely or partly recanalised. Of 12 pseudoaneurysms eight were unchanged at follow-up. The proximal vertebral artery was involved as often as the C1-C2 level. Recurrences were rare: a new dissection in another vessel was found in three patients. Kinking or coiling was found in 23% of the dissected internal carotid arteries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Box 50, 90029 OYS, Finland. outi.pelkonen@jippii.fi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pelkonen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tikkakoski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leinonen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pyhtinen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lepojärvi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sotaniemi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D020215:Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D020217:Vertebral Artery Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging