What is Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia?
Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is characterized by dilatation, elongation, and tortuosity of the vertebrobasilar arteries, with the presenting symptoms resulting from ischemia or compression of the brainstem.
What are the symptoms of vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia?
The mass effect of VBD can compress the nearby brainstem and cranial nerves, leading to symptoms such as weakness, dizziness, choking on water, cranial nerve damage, neurogenic hypertension, or pseudo space-occupying lesions within cranial fossa [4, 6, 29-31].
What is a positive vertebral artery test?
Perform passive rotation of the neck to the same side and hold for approximately 30 seconds. Repeat test with head movement to the opposite side. Test is considered positive if there is dropping of the arms, loss of balance, or pronation of the hands; a positive result indicates decreased blood supply to the brain.
What is intracranial dolichoectasia?
Intracranial arterial dolichoectasia is a condition characterized by enlargement, tortuosity, or elonga- tion of major arteries at the base of the brain, usu- ally the distal vertebral arteries, the basilar artery, and the distal internal carotid artery segments.
Is vertebrobasilar insufficiency hereditary?
Risk factors of vertebrobasilar insufficiency Older age. Gender: men have a higher risk before age 75; women have a high risk after age 75. Family history. Genetic factors.
Is Dolichoectasia hereditary?
In rare instances, an underlying hereditary condition, connective tissue disorder, or infection predispose to the development of IADE. However, most cases are sporadic and associated with traditional vascular risk factors including advanced age, male gender, and arterial hypertension.
What is vertebrobasilar artery?
The vertebrobasilar arteries supply oxygen and glucose to the parts of the brain responsible for consciousness, vision, coordination, balance and many other essential functions. Both restricted blood flow and the complete blockage of it — called ischemic events — have serious consequences for brain cells.