Presentation
A 55 year-old female patient presenting with vertigo.
Patient Data
Color and spectral Doppler ultrasonography show a patent left vertebral vein and normal flow pattern. There is no color encoding of the left vertebral artery due to occlusion on Doppler ultrasound.
Coronal T2W images: loss of normal flow void within the V3 segment of the left vertebral artery.
MRA reveals stenosis of the right vertebral artery. The left vertebral artery could not be identified.
Color Doppler ultrasonography shows patent left vertebral vein (white arrow) and normal flow pattern. There is no color encoding at left vertebral artery (yellow arrow) due to occlusion on Doppler ultrasound.
Coronal T2W images: loss of normal flow void within the V3 segment of the left vertebral artery (black arrow). Right patent vertebral artery shows normal flow void (blue arrow)
MRA reveals stenosis of the right vertebral artery (red arrow). The left vertebral artery could not be identified.
Case Discussion
Vertebral artery occlusion is a serious, morbid, and potentially life-threatening occurrence. Evaluation of all imaging modalities is necessary for the accurate diagnosis.