Extracranial vertebral artery aneurysm presenting as a chronic cervical mass lesion.
Background. Aneurysms of the extracranial vertebral artery are rare and can provide a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Methods. We reviewed the clinical history of a patient presenting with cervical radiculopathy, who harboured an extracranial vertebral artery aneurysm eroding the cervical spine. Results. CT Angiography and MR Angiography set the diagnosis, by revealing a left C5-C6 vertebral artery aneurysm with cervical root impingement. Bony reconstruction depicted enlargement of the C6 transverse foramen and a marked enlargement of the C6-C7 intravertebral foramen. The lesion was treated by intravascular proximal vertebral artery occlusion. Conclusions. Extracranial vertebral artery aneurysms require a high index of clinical suspicion. This is the first report of a vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm presenting with bony erosion, which supports a less minacious portrayal of vertebral artery aneurysms.
Stavrinou
Lampis C
LC
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Athens Medical School, Evangelismos General Hospital, Pangrati, 116 32 Athens, Greece.
Stranjalis
George
G
Stavrinou
Pantelis C
PC
Bontozoglou
N
N
Sakas
Damianos E
DE