Skip to main content
Log in

Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia: Assessment using MR

  • Originals
  • Published:
Neuroradiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We evaluated six patients with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) comparing clinical presentation with magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) imaging. MR diagnosed the condition as well as CT in all cases, but proved superior to CT in delineating the anatomical relationship of the vessels to the neural structures. MR proved especially useful in cases of VBD-associated hydrocephalus and posterior fossa masses. A coexisting tumor was diagnosed by MR in one case.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Nijensohn DE, Saez RJ, Reagen TJ (1974) Clinical significance of basilar artery aneurysms. Neurology 24: 301–305

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hegedus K (1985) Ectasia of the basilar artery with special reference to possible pathogenesis. Surg Neurol 24: 463–469

    Google Scholar 

  3. Boeri R, Passerini A (1964) The megadolichobasilar anomaly. J Neurol Sci 1: 475–484

    Google Scholar 

  4. Herpers M, Lodder J, Janevski B, vanderLugt PJM (1983) The symptomatology of megadolichobasilar artery. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 85: 203–212

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kerber CW, Margolis MT, Newton TH (1972) Tortuous vertebrobasilar system: A cause of cranial nerve signs. Neuroradiology 4: 74–77

    Google Scholar 

  6. Moseley IF, Holland IM (1979) Ectasia of the basilar artery: The breadth of the clinical spectrum and the diagnostic value of computed tomography. Neuroradiology 18: 83–91

    Google Scholar 

  7. Randell CP, Collins AG, Young IR, Haywood R, Thomas DJ, McDonall MJ, Orr JS, Bydder GM, Steiner RE (1983) Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of posterior fossa tumors. AJNR 4: 1027–1034

    Google Scholar 

  8. Smoker WRK, Corbett JJ, Gentry LR, Keyes WD, Price MJ, McKusker S (1986) High-resolution computed tomography of the basilar artery; 1. Normal size and position. AJNR 7: 55–60

    Google Scholar 

  9. Smoker WRK, Corbett JJ, Gentry LR, Keyes WD, Price MJ, McKusker S (1986) High-resolution computed tomography of the basilar artery; 2. Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia: Clinical-pathologic correlation and review. AJNR 7: 61–72

    Google Scholar 

  10. Yu YL, Moseley IF, Pullicino P, McDonald WI (1982) The clinical picture of ectasia of the intracerebral arteries. J Neurol Neurosurg Psych 45: 29–36

    Google Scholar 

  11. Breig A, Ekbom K, Greitz T, Kugelberg E (1967) Hydrocephalus due to elongated basilar artery: A new clinicoradiological syndrome. Lancet I: 874–875

    Google Scholar 

  12. Nishizaki T, Tamaki N, Takeda N, Shirakuni T, Kondoh T, Matsumoto S (1986) Dolichoectatic basilar artery: A review of 23 cases. Stroke 17: 1277–1281

    Google Scholar 

  13. Resta M, Gentile MA, DiCounzo F, Vinjau E, Brindicci D, Carella A (1984) Clinical-angiographic correlations in 132 patients with megadolichovertebrobasilar anomaly. Neuroradiology 26: 213–216

    Google Scholar 

  14. Deeb Z, Jannetta P, Rosenbaum AJ, Kerber CW, Drayer BP (1979) Tortuous vertebrobasilar artery causing cranial nerve syndromes; screening by computed tomography. J Comput Assist Tomogr 3: 774–778

    Google Scholar 

  15. Scotti G, DeGrandi C, Colombo A (1978) Ectasia of the intracranial arteries diagnosed by computed tomography. Megadolichobasilar artery: CT diagnosis. Neuroradiology 15: 183–184

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Giang, D.W., Perlin, S.J., Monajati, A. et al. Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia: Assessment using MR. Neuroradiology 30, 518–523 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339693

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339693

Key words

Navigation