title: Congenital anomaly of the posterior arch of the atlas: a rare risk factor for posterior circulation stroke.
abstract: We report an extremely rare case involving a posterior arch anomaly of the atlas, causing a vertebral artery dissection (VAD) induced posterior circulation stroke. A 16-year-old girl was admitted to hospital because of new onset dizziness. VAD related multiple infarction in the posterior circulation was revealed. The congenital posterior arch anomaly of the atlas, along with instability of the atlantoaxial joint, were discovered accidentally during follow-up. This is the first case of ischemic stroke related to atlantal posterior arch aplasia and atlantoaxial instability. Although rare, it reminds us that investigation of the craniovertebral junction should be considered when stroke occurs in young patients.
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Min-Jian
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: The Second People Hospital of Quzhou, Quzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Bing
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lu-Sha
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D020217:Vertebral Artery Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
keywords: Aneurysm; Cervical; Congenital; Dissection; Malformation