Dual origin of the left vertebral artery: extracranial MRA and CTA findings.
A 48-year-old man presented with a posterior circulation stroke secondary to left lateral medullary infarction. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA) revealed 40-45% intracranial left vertebral artery stenosis, likely atherosclerotic in nature. CEMRA and subsequent computed tomography angiography also identified a duplicate origin of the left vertebral artery. The importance of recognition of this rare anatomical variant, its potential contribution to stroke aetiology, and the advantage of non-invasive vascular imaging prior to catheter angiography is emphasised.
Tobin
W Oliver
WO
Department of Neurology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
Killeen
Ronan
R
Kinsella
Justin A
JA
McCabe
Dominick J H
DJ
D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*; D020217:Vertebral Artery Dissection / Q000473:pathology; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology