title: Spontaneous limb movements and posturing secondary to acute basilar artery occlusion: a potentially devastating seizure mimic.
abstract: Basilar artery occlusion is a devastating but treatable form of ischaemic stroke with high morbidity and mortality rates. The diagnosis is often challenging due to considerable heterogeneity of clinical signs and symptoms. We report a case of an acute basilar artery occlusion presenting with decreased level of consciousness associated with rhythmic tonic movements of the four extremities, mimicking seizure activity. The patient was treated with intravenous thrombolysis and subsequently gained good recovery. Awareness of this entity is required to recognise this potentially treatable, but otherwise devastating seizure mimic.
authors.affiliation: Vancouver Stroke Program, Division of Neurology, BC Centre for Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, University of British Columbia, , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Benavente
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Woolfenden
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asdaghi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005121:Extremities / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Neuroradiology; Stroke