Dual origin of the vertebral artery mimicking dissection

Abstract

Vertebral artery injury may occur at the time of cervical fracture or dislocation. Congenital vertebral artery variations, especially a double vertebral artery origin, may be responsible for angiographic findings that mimic vertebral artery dissection. Two cases of cervical spine fracture with ipsilateral double vertebral artery are presented. Conventional cerebral angiography is the easiest and best way to make this diagnosis and to exclude vertebral artery dissection.