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Case Reports
. 2023 Apr 15;62(8):1223-1225.
doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0019-22. Epub 2022 Sep 13.

Usefulness of Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis and Follow-up of Extracranial Vertebral Artery Dissection

Marin Sato  1 , Tadataka Mizoguchi  1 , Yusuke Imamura  1 , Yoshitaka Yamada  1 , Yohei Muraya  1 , Go Hashimoto  1 , Naoki Tagawa  1 , Kota Mori  1 , Takahiro Kuwashiro  1 , Hiroshi Sugimori  1 , Masahiro Yasaka  1 , Yasushi Okada  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Usefulness of Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis and Follow-up of Extracranial Vertebral Artery Dissection

Marin Sato et al. Intern Med. .

Abstract

Extracranial vertebral artery dissection is a cerebrovascular disease that occurs most commonly in young people. A 32-year-old man experienced sudden cervical pain and was diagnosed with left vertebral artery dissection after arterial changes were identified by ultrasonography. The reduction in the size of an intramural hematoma in the left vertebral artery and in the peak systolic velocity were evaluated over time. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cerebral angiography are generally performed to diagnose and follow-up extracranial vertebral artery dissection; however, carotid ultrasonography has an advantage over these modalities by enabling the simultaneous observation of vascular morphology and hemodynamics.

Keywords: ultrasonography; vertebral artery dissection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors state that they have no Conflict of Interest (COI).

Figures

Figure.
Figure.
Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). MRA shows the extent of left vertebral artery stenosis and hematoma at presentation (A), improvement on day 7 (B), and normal left vertebral artery wall on day 90 (C). Ultrasonography shows a flap and double lumen in the left vertebral artery (D), vascular lumens (including false lumens; ※), improvement and slight reduction of the hematoma on day 7 (E), and normalization of the blood vessel wall on day 90 (F). Flow velocity waveforms on day 2 (G), day 7 (H), and day 90 (I) show a steady decrease in peak systolic velocity with time. The white lines trace the waveform (G-I).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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