The pathogenesis of vertebro-basilar TIA is regarded to be stenosis or obstruction of the vertebro-basilar artery, hemodynamic factors, and microemboli. This report deals with neurotological findings in vertebro-basilar TIA (V-BTIA) on circulation and imaging studies.
Neurotological testing was used to evaluate circulation in the vertebro-basilar artery in 31 patients with V-BTIA who consulted our clinic in Nara Medical University Hospital between 1992 and 1994. On neurotological findings, static and kinetic body balance test show normal results, and test of labyrinthine reaction also show normal findings. On circulation test, however, ECD (extracranial doppler test) and TCD (transcranial doppler test) detected abnormal findings in many patients. On imaging study, pathological lacunar infarction was detected on CT and MRI in some patients, and also kinking and coiling in the vertebral artery in MR angiography.
We have concluded that V-BTIA orginates from hemodynamic factors rather than vascular factors considering the pathogenesis of vertebro-basilar circulation.
