title: Significant period between presentation and diagnosis in basilar artery occlusion: five cases and the lessons learned.
abstract: Basilar artery occlusion remains a challenging pathological process. Time delay between presentation and diagnosis and treatment can be associated with poor outcome, but the low frequency and variable presentation in BAO makes rapid diagnosis difficult. Clinicians should maintain an index of suspicion for basilar artery occlusion in patients of any age who present with focal neurological symptoms that could be referable to the basilar artery. Timely vessel imaging is critical for the diagnosis and initiation of treatment in these patients.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, OH (N.O., M.D., I.L.K.); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (N.M.); Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH (S.S.); and Departments of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (D.S.).
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Organek
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, OH (N.O., M.D., I.L.K.); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (N.M.); Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH (S.S.); and Departments of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (D.S.).
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milano
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, OH (N.O., M.D., I.L.K.); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (N.M.); Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH (S.S.); and Departments of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (D.S.).
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donohue
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, OH (N.O., M.D., I.L.K.); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (N.M.); Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH (S.S.); and Departments of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (D.S.).
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundararajan
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, OH (N.O., M.D., I.L.K.); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (N.M.); Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH (S.S.); and Departments of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (D.S.).
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strbian
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic, OH (N.O., M.D., I.L.K.); Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (N.M.); Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH (S.S.); and Departments of Neurology and Stroke Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland (D.S.). katzani@ccf.org.
authors.forename: Irene L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Katzan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D020217:Vertebral Artery Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy
keywords: acute stroke; basilar artery; diagnosis; prognosis