title: Coma with Vertical Gaze Palsy: Relevance of Angio-CT in Acute Percheron Artery Syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND: A 63-year-old woman with chronic atrial fibrillation treated with warfarin was admitted to emergency for coma and complete vertical gaze palsy. Investigations: Brain CT and MRI, echo-colour Doppler sonography of the supraaortic vessels, angio-CT of the intracranial vessels, EEG, transesophageal echocardiogram, biohumoral tests. Brain CT and MRI scans showed bilateral thalamic lesions with involvement of the right midbrain; EEG showed a diffuse alpha rhythm prevalent on the posterior regions; echo-colour Doppler sonography of the supraaortic vessels showed marked reduction of blood flow in the right vertebral artery; angio-CT scans showed occlusion of the right vertebral artery and a significant filling defect of the first part of the right posterior cerebral artery (P1) from which the artery of Percheron arises. A follow-up angio-CT showed a complete recanalization of P1. Diagnosis: Percheron artery syndrome. Treatment and Management: Aspirin, neurorehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ospedale Civico S. Andrea, La Spezia, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Godani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auci
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Sette