Abstract
An autopsy case in which a vertebral artery was tortuous and compressed the 6th cervical nerve root was reported. This case was a cadaver which died of stomach cancer at 81 years of age. No history of his neurological status was available. His right vertebral artery was emerging out of the transverse foramen of the sixth cervical vertebra to run medially and posteriorly, compressing heavily the underlying cervical nerve root covered by dura mater. It was located closely near by the posterolateral edge of the uncus of the sixth cervical vertebra. The present case showed a possible hazard of damaging vertebral artery during the surgery such as removing degenerated cervical discs. We should be aware of possibility that the vertebral artery may sit nearby the disc to be operated upon and lead to fatal complication by injuring it.
