Purpose: Vertebral artery dissection is an established cause of ischemic stroke in the vertebrobasilar circulation territory in young adults with no risk factors for atherosclerotic arterial disease. This study examined characteristic findings of extracranial vertebral artery dissection using ultrasonography.
Subjects: Abnormalities in 6 vertebral arteries of 5 patients (3 women, 2 men; mean age, 43.8 ± 22.1 years) were followed using ultrasonography at 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 months.
Results: Typical ultrasonographic findings comprised localized dilation, intramural hematoma, spiral flow, double lumen and false lumen flow. At follow-up, we identified reduced diameter, improved hematoma, and lumen dilation, as well as altered echogenicity. Abnormal findings in four young patients improved around 2 months later and normalized around 6 months later. However, findings did not change in one older patient.
Conclusions: Ultrasonography helped to diagnose extracranial vertebral artery dissection and was thus useful as a follow-up methodology.
