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Transient embryonic carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses can intermittently persist beyond the embryonic period. These vascular anomalies are often serendipitously identified during evaluation for unrelated disease states and pathologies. The persistent proatlantal intersegmental artery is one such recognized rare fetal anastomotic connection, often arising unilaterally. Bilateral persistence of the proatlantal anastomosis is a rarer occurrence, seldom described in the literature. We report a case of bilateral concurrent type I and type II proatlantal arteries, describe the embryology of persistent carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses, and consider pertinent clinical implications.

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Background: Effect of stenosis of vertebrobasilar artery (VBA) on cognitive function is elusive. Objective: To investigate association of cerebral hypoperfusion and poor collaterals with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) in severe VBA stenosis patients. Methods: We consecutively enrolled patients with severe VBA stenosis confirmed by digital subtraction angiography who underwent computed tomographic perfusion (CTP) and cognitive assessments. Patients were divided into poor or good collaterals groups according to the collateral circulation status, and were grouped into different perfusion groups according to CTP. Cognitive function was measured by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Clock Drawing Test, Stroop Color Word Test, Trail Making Test, Digital Span Test, Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and Boston Naming Test scales. The association of cerebral perfusion and collaterals with VCI were explored. Results: Among 88 eligible patients, VCI occurred in 51 (57.9%) patients experienced. Poor collateral was present in 73 (83.0%) patients, and hypoperfusion in 64 (72.7%). Compared with normal perfusion patients, the odds ratio with 95% confidence interval for VCI was 12.5 (3.7-42.4) for overall hypoperfusion, 31.0 (7.1-135.5) for multiple site hypoperfusion, 3.3 (1.0-10.5) for poor collaterals, and 0.1 (0-0.6) for presence of posterior communicating artery (PcoA) compensated for posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and basilar artery (BA). Additionally, decreased scores of cognitive function tests occurred in patients with decompensated perfusion or poor collaterals. Conclusions: Hypoperfusion and poor collaterals were positively associated with cognitive impairment in patients with severe VBA. However, PcoA compensated for the PCA and BA had a protective role in cognitive impairment development.

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This case report describes a 40-year-old male who presented with chronic neck pain radiating to the left upper limb, associated with weakness and numbness. He also had symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Imaging revealed an intraneural foramen vertebral artery (VA) loop compressing the C3 nerve root. Conservative management was ineffective, prompting surgical decompression via a left C2-C3 facetectomy and foraminotomy. The patient experienced immediate pain relief and gradual improvement in weakness, with complete resolution of symptoms at the six-month follow-up. This case highlights the potential for VA loops to cause radiculopathy and the successful use of surgical decompression for treatment.

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Objective: The dominant vertebral artery (VA) approach is primarily considered in mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute occlusion of the vertebrobasilar (VB) artery. As accessing the dominant artery is sometimes difficult, we present our experience treating acute VB stroke via a nondominant VA approach through a comparison with the dominant VA approach. Methods: Among 2,785 patients diagnosed with hyperacute ischemic stroke between January 2014 and December 2022, 50 patients with VB ischemic stroke underwent recanalization therapy through either dominant, nondominant, or bilateral VA approach. We evaluated patient characteristics and clinical course, highlighting the pros and cons of the access routes. Results: The patients with hyperacute VB ischemic stroke were predominantly male (72%), with a mean age of 68.12 years and an initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score mean of 17.1. Large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA, 48%) and cardio-embolism (CE, 36%) were the main etiologic factors in the TOAST (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) classification. After thrombectomy, 45 (90%) cases had final modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 2b or higher. In summary, 41 patients were treated through the dominant VA, and 8 patients underwent the nondominant VA approach. However, there was no statistically significant difference in functional outcome or mortality between the two approaches. Conclusion: In MT for VB occlusions, nondominant VA approach may be an option in situations when the vessel is accessible, stable, or less risky, as recanalization can be achieved without rescue balloon angioplasty and/or stenting.

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OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the correlation between Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF23) levels and Cerebral Infarction (CI), and to determine whether there is a significant relationship between FGF23 and the occurrence and severity of CI. METHODS: The study categorized Cerebral Infarction (CI) patients into severe and mild stenosis groups based on vertebrobasilar artery stenosis, using Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The study compared the levels of Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF23) in the serum of CI patients and healthy controls using a t-test and evaluated the diagnostic effectiveness of serum FGF23 using a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Additionally, the study analyzed the correlation between FGF23 levels and CI severity after treatment using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score. RESULTS: The study found a significant increase in serum Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF23) levels in patients with Cerebral Infarction (CI) compared to healthy volunteers, (p < 0.001). A higher serum FGF23 level was observed in the severe stenosis group than in the mild stenosis group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the study showed that a high FGF23 level at admission was significantly related to more severe symptoms of CI as indicated by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on the 7th day after treatment (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study discovered a correlation between Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF23) levels, vertebrobasilar artery stenosis, and short-term prognosis in patients who had recently experienced acute Cerebral Infarction (CI).

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OBJECTIVE: To compare whether there is a difference in the efficacy of complete endoscopic microvascular decompression (EVD) and microscopic microvascular decompression (MVD) in patients with classical trigeminal neuralgia (CTN). METHODS: From January 2014 to January 2021, 297 CTN patients were assigned to the retrosigmoid approach EVD (138 cases) and the MVD groups (159 cases); to compare whether there are differences in the pain control rate, recurrence, complications of CTN patients between the 2operations, and separately predict the factors related to prognosis of both groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in painless rates at 1, 3, and 5 years after surgery (P = 0.356, P = 0.853, P = 1), and overall incidence of complications (P = 0.058) between the EVD and MVD groups. The EVD group had shorter surgical decompression duration than the MVD group (P < 0.001). The painless rate of patients with vertebrobasilar trigeminal neuralgia in the EVD group was higher than that in the MVD group, but the difference was not statistically significant (90% vs. 61.1%, P = 0.058). The independent risk factors associated with a good prognosis in the EVD group were a shorter course of the disease and severe neurovascular conflict, while severe neurovascular conflict is the only independent risk factor associated with a good prognosis in the MVD group. CONCLUSIONS: For CTN patients, compared with traditional MVD, EVD is also safe and effective and has the advantage of shorter decompression time.The predictive results of prognostic factors also suggest that CTN patients may benefit more from early surgical treatment.

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OBJECTIVE: Due the lack of data on the treatment of Vascular Vertigo and Dizziness, this study aimed to report how we managed and treated those outpatients according to the recently introduced American Heart Association and Stroke Association guidelines. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal case series from May 2022 to February 2023. We included patients who met the Bárány Society's Vascular Vertigo and Dizziness classification and were eligible for therapy in accordance with the American Heart Association and Stroke Association guidelines, featuring aspects of the stroke group and transient attack group. RESULTS: Overall, 41 patients (51.2% female; median age 72 years) were enrolled; 10 (24.3%) had ischemic strokes, 30 (73.1%) had transient ischemic attack, and 1 (2.4%) had a probable isolated labyrinthine infarction. The patients received dual antiplatelet (48.7%), single antiplatelet therapy (48.7%), and anticoagulant therapy (2.4%). No new crises occurred in 95.2% of the patients, and the transient ischemic attack group showed a significant decrease in discomfort from imbalance on the visual analog scale. CONCLUSIONS: Antiplatelets and anticoagulants are safe and effective in treating Vascular Vertigo and Dizziness as they prevent new ischemic events and increase the flow of the posterior circulation, reducing vertigo/dizziness attacks and imbalance complaints.

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The acute vertebrobasilar occlusion associated with the poor prognosis, particularly tandem occlusion. However, few data on the efficacy of the endovascular therapy was indicated in this occlusion. We investigated whether the additional rescue extracranial vertebral stenting improved clinical outcome by modified Rankin scale (mRS) score within 3 months after the procedure. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of patients with acute posterior tandem occlusion who were treated with rescue extracranial vertebral stenting between December 2020 and January 2024 at our hospital. Clinical, neuroimaging, procedural, and complication data were collected. Primary outcomes included the rate of good outcomes (mRS ≤ 2) at 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Nine patients who underwent rescue extracranial vertebral stenting in posterior circulation tandem occlusions were enrolled in the study. All patients were achieved the successful recanalization (mTICI ≥ 2b). Of Dotter technique in the "distal-to-proximal" approach, Diagnostic-Dotter made up 66.7%. Five patients (55.6%) with good outcome (mRS ≤ 2) at 3 months, and 1 patient (11.1%) underwent suboccipital decompressive craniectomy due to the malignant cerebellar infarction. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that despite the small series with posterior tandem occlusions, the rescue extracranial vertebral stenting could be an important alternative treatment followed by mechanical thrombectomy.

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Bow Hunter's syndrome (BHS) is an uncommon condition characterized by impingement of one of the two vertebral arteries induced by cervical rotation, causing symptomatic vertebrobasilar insufficiency of the posterior cerebral circulation. We report a case of BHS in an 84-year-old male. Two months following a motor vehicle accident, the patient presented to an urgent care facility with subsequent transfer to the emergency department with complaints of lightheadedness upon right-lateral head movement. A cerebral angiogram demonstrated mild focal stenosis in the dominant left vertebral artery at the C2 level when in neutral position with significant worsening of the stenosis in the right-lateral head position with absent anterograde flow, consistent with BHS. Resultantly, the patient was referred for neurosurgery and successfully underwent placement of right-sided C2-C4 postero-lateral instrumentation and left-sided C2-C3 laminar screws projected towards the right side. This case highlights the importance of imaging in BHS diagnosis and guidance for treatment, as well as the need for a surgical standard of care for BHS patients.

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Objective Stable and swift placement of a guiding catheter in endovascular therapies for acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion is often difficult because of the tortuous bends of the vertebral or subclavian artery especially in older people. The use of a delivery assist guiding catheter (DAGC) shortens the time with stable support to deliver a therapeutic treatment catheter to the target lesions. Herein, we reported the clinical and radiographic outcomes in endovascular therapies utilizing the DAGC for acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusions in actual clinical settings. Materials and Methods Between January 2018 and December 2021, 33 consecutive patients (males, 20[60.6%]; median age, 78 years) using a DAGC for acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion were analyzed retrospectively. Reperfusion was graded using postinterventional angiograms based on the "thrombolysis in cerebral infarction" (TICI) classification. Furthermore, the time from puncture to recanalization and the rate of effective recanalization achievement were investigated. Results Effective recanalization with TICI 2b or 3 was achieved in 28 (84.8%) patients, and the median time from puncture to recanalization was only 44 minutes, despite the high rate of older patients in our cohort. In contrast, asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage as a complication was observed in only 3 (9.1%) patients. Conclusion The DAGC contributes to the shortening of recanalization time and improves the outcomes of endovascular therapies for acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion.

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Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is a rare anatomical abnormality of the vertebral artery system, defined as irregular expansion, elongation, and tortuosity of vertebral arteries. Anomalies of the vertebrobasilar artery can have a wide variety of clinical presentations, ranging from simple headaches to debilitating strokes. We present the case of an atypical presentation of VBD which mimicked trigeminal neuralgia by compressing the trigeminal nerve. There are currently no guidelines concerning the management of VBD, nor is there evidence of a definitive cure. This case invoked discussions among the medical team as to whether management should be medically or surgically focused, as well as long-term outcomes for patients with VBD. The superiority of medical versus surgical treatment of this issue is still a debated topic. This patient trialed medical management with dexamethasone and carbamazepine with no improvement in symptoms. He then underwent surgical gamma knife treatment but even this invasive measure was unsuccessful at relieving his symptoms. We hope that by presenting this case, we can display how the therapies available for VBD are limited and often unsuccessful in relieving the disease burden in patients with VBD.

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The vertebral artery's morphological characteristics are crucial in spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (sVAD). We aimed to investigate morphologic features related to ischemic stroke (IS) and develop a novel prediction model. Out of 126 patients, 93 were finally analyzed. We constructed 3D models and morphological analyses. Patients were randomly classified into training and validation cohorts (3:1 ratio). Variables selected by LASSO - including five morphological features and five clinical characteristics - were used to develop prediction model in the training cohort. The model exhibited a high area under the curve (AUC) of 0.944 (95%CI, 0.862-0.984), with internal validation confirming its consistency (AUC = 0.818, 95%CI, 0.597-0.948). Decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated clinical usefulness. Morphological features significantly contribute to risk stratification in sVAD patients. Our novel developed model, combining interdisciplinary parameters, is clinically useful for predicting IS risk. Further validation and in-depth research into the hemodynamics related to sVAD are necessary.

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BACKGROUND: Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is mainly characterized by progressive limb-girdle muscle weakness and respiratory impairment, whereas stroke and cerebrovascular abnormalities have been insufficiently studied in LOPD. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and pattern of intracranial artery and brain parenchyma abnormalities in LOPD patients. RESULTS: Neuroimaging data from 30 Chinese adult LOPD patients were collected from our center. Seven patients (7/30) had acute cerebral infarction or hemorrhage. Brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed artery abnormalities in 23 patients (23/30). Dilative arteriopathy was found in 19 patients (19/30), with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia found in 17 patients and dilatation of the anterior circulation arteries found in 8 patients. The maximum diameter of the basilar artery was correlated with disease duration (p < 0.05). In addition, aneurysms (7/30) and fenestrations (3/30) were discovered. There were 14 patients with arterial stenosis (14/30), and both anterior and posterior circulation involvement occurred in 9 patients (9/14). Stenosis and dilative arteriopathy simultaneously occurred in 10 patients (10/30). White matter hyperintensities were present in 13 patients (13/28). Microbleeds, predominantly located in the cerebellum and brainstem, were detected in 7 patients (7/22) via susceptibility-weighted imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial vasculopathy involving both large arteries and small vessels is an important organ damage in LOPD patients. LOPD should be considered a key differential diagnosis in young adults with cryptogenic stroke, and a series of imaging evaluations of the brain and intracranial blood vessels is recommended as a routine workup in adult LOPD patients.

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OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy in patients with posterior circulation ischemic stroke remains controversial. Early neurological deterioration (END) as an important predictor of poor outcome is poorly understood, except in cases of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, recanalization failure, and malignant cerebral edema. The objective of this study was to assess predictors of unexplained END (UnEND) after endovascular thrombectomy. METHODS: The BASILAR study is a multicenter prospective observational study in which 647 patients with vertebrobasilar occlusion on imaging within 24 hours of stroke onset and who underwent endovascular treatment were enrolled, of whom 477 who had undergone successful recanalization were included in this study. Multivariate analysis was used to identify the predictors of UnEND, defined as a ≥ 4-point increase in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at 24 hours after endovascular thrombectomy. RESULTS: Among the 477 eligible patients included, UnEND occurred in 86 (18%) patients. The predictors of UnEND were stress hyperglycemic ratio (SHR) (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.6; p = 0.031), baseline NIHSS score (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.83-0.95; p = 0.001), and asymptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (aICH) (OR 5.9, 95% CI 1.7-20.0; p = 0.004). The occurrence rate of a favorable outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-3 at 90 days, was lower in the UnEND group (5.8% vs 47.6%, p < 0.001) compared with the group without END, and the UnEND group had higher mortality at 90 days (66.3% vs 27.4%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: UnEND may be associated with poor outcome after endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute vertebrobasilar occlusion. Some modifiable factors such as SHR and aICH could be targeted to improve the efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy.

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BACKGROUND: Direct surgery is an important option to treat vertebral artery (VA) stenosis. METHOD: A patient with symptomatic stenosis at the origin of the right VA underwent transposition of the right VA to the common carotid artery (CCA). Using the sternocleidomastoid sparing approach, the VA was anastomosed to the posterior wall of the CCA by twisting the CCA to expose its posterior wall to face the operative field. CONCLUSION: This approach, consisting of securing the proximal VA and then following it to its distal end, not only preserves the sternocleidomastoid muscle but also protects the sympathetic chains and thoracic duct.

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Persistent trigeminal artery disease is one of the most common types of persistent carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses. Usually, it is unilateral, and it can be discovered with a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), computed tomography angiography (angioCT), or classic angiography exam. It can be associated with non-specific symptoms, such as headaches, or more specific ones, such as III or VI nerve palsy or trigeminal neuralgia, but most of the time it goes undetected, being an incidental finding and not causing any symptoms. On MRA and angioCT, it has the characteristic "tau" sign. We present the case of a young woman who, incidentally, discovered this malformation after undergoing an MRA. She had been experiencing a persistent headache without a known cause, which did not improve despite medication.

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Hemifacial spasm (HFS) arises from involuntary, recurrent, irregular tonic-clonic-like contractions of the muscles innervated by the facial nerve. Typically, compression of the facial nerve root exit on the same side is attributed to either a vascular loop or a mass located in the cerebellopontine (CP) angle. Dolichoectasia, alternatively termed dilated arteriopathy, is characterized by arterial dilatation, elongation, and tortuosity. Here, we present a case involving vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) as the cause of HFS, alongside relevant imaging findings.

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PURPOSE: Stroke, the second leading cause of death globally, often involves ischemia in the vertebrobasilar territory. This condition is underexplored, despite significant morbidity and mortality risks. The purpose of this study is to present a case of occipital artery to V3 segment vertebral artery bypass, emphasizing the role of quantitative magnetic resonance angiography (qMRA) in assessing flow and guiding surgical intervention. METHODS: A 66-year-old man with bilateral vertebral artery occlusion presented acute symptoms. qMRA was employed to evaluate flow dynamics and determine the feasibility of a flow augmentation bypass surgery. The occipital artery to left vertebral artery bypass (OA-to-VA) was performed, utilizing an inverted hockey-stick incision and an antegrade inside-out technique. The patency of the bypass was confirmed using both Doppler probe and Indocyanine green. RESULTS: Postoperative assessments, including computed tomography angiography (CTA) and qMRA, demonstrated the patency of the bypass with improved flow in the basilar artery and left vertebral artery. The patient's condition remained stable postoperatively, with residual peripheral palsy of the left facial nerve. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the presented case illustrates the efficacy of the OA-to-VA bypass in addressing symptomatic bilateral vertebral artery occlusion. The study underscores the pivotal role of qMRA in pre- and postoperative assessments, providing noninvasive flow quantification for diagnostic considerations and long-term follow-up in patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency.

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Primary or secondary hemifacial spasm (HFS) can be caused by a variety of conditions, one of which is caused by neurovascular contact with a vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD). Microvascular decompression (MVD) had been known for the treatment of neurovascular contact that gives best outcome, however there were still limitations which surgery cannot be performed. In that case, conservative treatment plays essential role. Our case reported A 69-year-old man with chief complaint right HFS for four years that getting better with conservative treatment (blood pressure management and clonazepam oral).

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BACKGROUND: Acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is a severe disease that is associated with an 85% mortality rate if untreated. Several studies have analyzed the use of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in the different scenarios of BAO. However, the results remain conflicting and the role of MT as standard of care for vertebrobasilar tandem occlusions (VBTO) has not been confirmed. Our goal was to assess technical feasibility, safety, and functional outcome of endovascular treatment of VBTO in comparison to isolated BAO (IBAO). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all prospectively collected patients with acute BAO from six tertiary centers between September 2016 and November 2021. Patients were subsequently divided into two groups: VBTO and IBAO. Baseline data, procedural details, and outcomes were compared between groups. RESULTS: A total of 190 patients were included, 55 presenting with a VBTO and 135 with IBAO. Successful recanalization was equally common in both groups (89.1% and 86.0%). Rates of favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale: 0-2) were higher in patients with VBTO compared to IBAO (36.4% vs. 25.2%, p = 0.048) and mortality was lower (29.1% vs. 33.3%). However, these associations faded after adjustment for confounders (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.86, 95% CI 0.35-2.05; aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.35-2.45). Rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage did not differ between the groups (VBTO: 7.3% vs. IBAO: 4.2%; p = 0.496). CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of VBTO is technically feasible and safe with similar rates of successful recanalization, favorable functional outcome, and mortality to those in patients with IBAO.