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.
Division of Neuroscience, University of Liverpool, The Walton Centre for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Liverpool L9 7LJ, UK. h.emsley@liv.ac.uk
Hedley C A
HC
Emsley
Carolyn A
CA
Young
Richard P
RP
White
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