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

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

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Ultrasonography / methods
  • Vertebral Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Vertebral Artery Dissection* / diagnostic imaging