Imaging in the Diagnosis and Follow-up Evaluation of Vertebral Artery Dissection
Resource
JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE v.19 n.4 pp.263-270
Journal
JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE
Journal Volume
v.19
Journal Issue
n.4
Pages
263-270
Date Issued
2000
Date
2000
Author(s)
LU, CHIEN-JUNG
HWANG, BAO-SHOW
LIN, WIN -HWAN
YIP, PING-KEUNG
Abstract
The purpose of this report is to discuss the value of ultrasonographic examination in the diagnosis and follow-up evaluation of vertebral artery dissection. We collected data on 8 patients with 11 pathologic vessels: 9 were affected intracranially and 6 were affected extracranially. Four vessels were affected in both intracranial and extracranial segments. Extracranial color-flow duplex sonography could detect abnormalities in every extracranial vertebral artery dissection. Most abnormal findings were nonspecific, including severely reduced flow, absence of flow, and absence of diastolic flow. A specific finding (intramural hematoma) was noted in one artery. Abnormal transcranial color-coded sonographic findings included absence of flow, reduced velocity and reversed flow direction. Three intracranial dissecting arteries showed normal findings on transcranial color-coded sonography. Ultrasonographic follow -up study revealed evidence of improvement; this was noted almost exclusively in the extracranial segments of the vertebral artery but infrequently in the intracranial segment. Extracranial color-flow duplex sonography is sensitive in the detection of extracranial vertebral artery dissection, both in initial diagnosis and in follow-up evaluation.
Subjects
dissection
vertebral artery
extracranial color-flow duplex sonography
transcranial color-coded sonography
MR- ANGIOGRAPHY
ULTRASOUND