A 38-year-old male patient came to the emergency room due to vertigo and vomiting that had started suddenly one day before the visit. The patient complained of a left-sided occipital headache that began two days before the visit. He had no history of trauma within 1 week prior to admission. The patient did not have any underlying diseases, history of migraines, or risk factors for stroke except for smoking and alcohol consumption. His blood pressure was 170/100 mmHg, the pulse rate was 70/min, breathing rate was 20/min, and body temperature was 36.5 °C. A neurological examination showed ataxia in the left upper extremity and the NIH stroke scale was 1. The results of serological studies and electrocardiography were normal.\nThe patient was determined to have an acute ischemic stroke because the DWI of MRI showed a high signal intensity area in the left PICA territory. CTA was taken at 2 days after the onset of a headache and at 1 day after the onset of neurological symptoms. Moreover, HR vw-MRI was taken at 6 days after the onset of a headache and at 5 days after the onset of neurological symptoms. Although the left PICA was not observed on the TOF-MRA, other vessels including the left vertebral artery were normal. An intraluminal high signal intensity and mild dilation of the left proximal PICA was revealed on routine 3D HR vw-MRI, but pathognomic signs of dissection was not seen. Curved MPR image reconstructed from 3D T2 weighted HR vw-MRI showed dilation and an intimal flap in the left PICA origin and post dilation stenosis in the left proximal PICA (D). (Fig. ). The patient was diagnosed with spontaneous isolated PICA dissection based on the neurological symptoms and imaging. The patient was treated with antiplatelet agents and discharged after his neurological symptoms improved.
A 64-year-old man, who had a history of hypertension, presented with headache and vomiting. CT scan showed SAH in the superior cerebellar cisterns []. DSA done revealed a fusiform aneurysm of the distal SCA, predominantly involving the branch of the cortical segment [Figures and ]. Standard heparin protocol was followed and an activated clotting time greater than 250 s was maintained during the procedure. 5F Envoy (cordis) guiding catheter was inserted in the distal vertebral artery. The aneurysm was accessed with a combination of micro-catheter (echelon-10) and micro-wire (traxcess12). Meticulous pre-shaping of the micro-catheter according to the shape of the target aneurysm aided in proper positioning of the micro-catheter in the aneurysm which was subsequently packed densely with the platinum micro-coils. Post-procedure angiogram showed complete exclusion of the aneurysm along with the branch of the cortical segment and preservation of the flow in the superior cerebellar artery (SCA) []. There were no untoward events in the post-procedure hospital stay and patient was discharged after 1 week. No neurological deficit was seen during the clinical follow-up after 1 month. Control angiogram carried out after 1 year showed stable occlusion of the aneurysm with preservation of the ante-grade flow in the SCA [].