Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia

Case contributed by Ahmed Abdrabou
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Headache and left facial numbness with development of seizure. History of previous excision of benign cerebellar tumor.

Patient Data

Age: 80 years
Gender: Male

The vertebral artery is dilated, elongated and tortuous with a diameter of about 8 mm (Normal < 4.5 mm). The artery indents the left lateral aspect of anterior surface of pons.

Age related involutional changes, deep white matter ischemia and multiple ischemic foci.

Case Discussion

Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is diagnosed when the vertebral artery is dilated and tortuous with intraluminal diameter more than 4.5 mm. The artery may compress adjacent cranial nerve causing neuropathy as in this case where the artery compresses the left 5th cranial nerve results in facial numbenss.

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