Vertebral artery loop formation causing cervical radiculopathy
Presentation
Chronic neck pain radiating into the left arm.
Patient Data
Sagittal T2WI and axial T2GRE images showed a signal-void vascular structure loops at the level C4-C5 neural foramina and compressing the left C5 nerve root.
The red arrow indicates the vascular loop at the level of left C4-5 intervertebral neural foramina.
Case Discussion
Vertebral artery loop formation (VALF) is an anatomic variation and uncommon cause of cervical radiculopathy caused by direct compression of the nerve root.
The mechanism of vertebral loop forms and migrates into the intervertebral foramen is unclear. The most common level of occurrence of a tortuous vertebral artery is C3-C4 and C4–C5. The most frequent side of occurrence is on the left.
Incorrect diagnosis of vertebral artery loop formation as disc herniation may lead to a possible injury to the vertebral artery during surgery.
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