Brachial artery aneurysm and bilateral posterior circulation strokes in a young child with tuberous sclerosis complex

Abstract

Although tuberous sclerosis (TS) may affect many organs, vascular manifestations involving medium- and large-size vessels are rare. We present a young child with known TS who presented with bilateral posterior circulation infarcts and subsequently was found to have right-hand ischaemia secondary to a thrombosed brachial artery aneurysm. A wound on his right middle finger failed to heal with conservative management, and digital subtraction angiography and MR angiogram demonstrated a lack of bypass target with microcollateral supply of the forearm only. The right middle digit ischaemia was initially managed with right middle finger disarticulation at the metacarpophalangeal joint, but the wound failed to heal and the patient proceeded to a thumb-sparing carpo-metacarpal amputation. Aneurysms, stenotic-occlusive disease and embolic stroke are rare but important complications of TS.

Keywords: Neuro genetics; Neuroimaging; Orthopaedics; Stroke; Vascular surgery.