Vertebral artery hypoplasia
Updates to Article Attributes
Vertebral artery hypoplasia is a congenital anatomical variation characterised by underdevelopment of the vertebral artery.
Epidemiology
The prevalence of hypoplastic vertebral arteries is reported to be 2-6% from autopsy and angiograms 1.
Clinical presentation
These are an asymptomatic anatomical variation in healthy people and there are no signs of vertebrobasilar insufficiency, even among patients with pronounced asymmetry 2.
Radiographic features
There is no clear consensus on the definition of the hypoplastic vertebral artery, but is defined by some authors as 2:
- vertebral artery luminal diameter <
;22;2.2 mm - vertebral artery volume flow <30-40 mL/min on colour duplex ultrasonography
Complications
Individuals with hypoplastic vertebral artery are more likely to develop inferior cerebellar artery or lateral medullary infarction.
Healthy subjects presenting this condition demonstrated abnormal vestibular evoked myogenic potential 3.
Differential diagnosis
- vertebral artery dissection
- vertebral artery ostial stenosis
-<li>vertebral artery luminal diameter <22 mm</li>- +<li>vertebral artery luminal diameter <2.2 mm</li>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.