Circle of Willis variation in a complex stroke presentation: a case report.
BACKGROUND
The impact of circle of Willis anatomical variation upon the presentation of stroke is probably underrecognized.


METHODS
A 63-year-old right-handed woman developed a left hemiparesis and right leg weakness sequentially following a road traffic accident (RTA). Despite initial concern about the possibility of cervical spinal cord injury, the final diagnosis was bilateral artery-to-artery embolic cerebral infarction with dominant right internal carotid artery.


CONCLUSIONS
The case illustrates the complex presentation of stroke as a pseudo-cervical cord lesion and the impact of circle of Willis anatomical variation upon the expression of large vessel cerebrovascular disease.
Emsley
Hedley C A
HC
Division of Neuroscience, University of Liverpool, The Walton Centre for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Liverpool L9 7LJ, UK. h.emsley@liv.ac.uk
Young
Carolyn A
CA
White
Richard P
RP
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D002941:Circle of Willis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation