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Acute primary cerebral angiitis mimicking basilar artery dissection
Author(s) -
Kruisdijk J.J.M.,
Vanneste J.A.L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-1331.1998.510095.x
Subject(s) - medicine , basilar artery , radiology , cerebral angiography , angiography , magnetic resonance angiography , dissection (medical) , magnetic resonance imaging , anterior cerebral artery , arterial dissection , cardiology , middle cerebral artery , ischemia
Two patients presented with acute severe occipital headache, neck pain, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision. In both patients angiograms of the posterior circulation showed focal narrowing of the basilar artery, thus basilar artery dissection was considered. Urgent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was unavailable. On the basis of additional angiography of the anterior circulation and control angiograms after 4 and 6 weeks, primary cerebral angiitis was the most probable diagnosis. Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in rapid clinical and angiographic improvement. We conclude that, when MR techniques are unavailable or inconclusive, presumption of basilar dissection on the base of clinical features, Doppler studies, Duplex scanning and angiography of the vertebro‐basilar system should be confirmed by additional carotid angiography in order to exclude diffuse cerebral angiitis.