Christine K Fox1, Heather J Fullerton2, Steven W Hetts2, Van V Halbach2, Kurtis I Auguste2, Michael T Lawton2, Nalin Gupta2. 1. From the Departments of Neurology (C.K.F., H.J.F.), Pediatrics (C.K.F., H.J.F., K.I.A., N.G.), Radiology and Biomedical Imaging (S.W.H., V.V.H.), and Neurological Surgery (K.I.A., M.T.L., N.G.), University of California San Francisco; and Department of Neurological Surgery (M.T.L.), Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ. Christine.Fox@ucsf.edu. 2. From the Departments of Neurology (C.K.F., H.J.F.), Pediatrics (C.K.F., H.J.F., K.I.A., N.G.), Radiology and Biomedical Imaging (S.W.H., V.V.H.), and Neurological Surgery (K.I.A., M.T.L., N.G.), University of California San Francisco; and Department of Neurological Surgery (M.T.L.), Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe a pediatric stroke syndrome with chronic focal vertebral arteriopathy adjacent to cervical abnormalities. METHODS: At a single pediatric stroke center, we identified consecutive children with stroke and vertebral arteriopathy of the V3 segment with adjacent cervical bony or soft tissue abnormalities. We abstracted clinical presentation, treatment, and follow-up data from medical charts. RESULTS: From 2005 to 2019, 10 children (all boys, ages 6-16 years) presented with posterior circulation strokes and vertebral arteriopathy with adjacent cervical pathology. Two children had bony abnormalities: one had a congenital arcuate foramen and one had os odontoideum with cervical instability. In children without bony pathology, vertebral artery narrowing during contralateral head rotation was visualized by digital subtraction angiography. Eight boys had recurrent ischemic events despite anti-thrombotic treatment (including 5 with multiple recurrences) and were treated surgically to prevent additional stroke. Procedures included vertebral artery decompression (n = 6), endovascular stent and spinal fusion (n = 1), and vertebral artery endovascular occlusion (n = 1). In boys treated with decompression, cervical soft tissue abnormalities (ruptured atlantoaxial bursa, ruptured joint capsule, or connective tissue scarring) were directly visualized during open surgery. No other etiology for stroke or dissection was found in any of the cases. Two boys without recurrent stroke were treated with activity restriction and antithrombotics. At a median follow-up of 51 months (range 17-84), there have been no additional recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Children with V3 segmental vertebral arteriopathy frequently have stroke recurrence despite antithrombotics. Cervical bone imaging and angiography with neck rotation can identify underlying pathology.
OBJECTIVE: To describe a pediatric stroke syndrome with chronic focal vertebral arteriopathy adjacent to cervical abnormalities. METHODS: At a single pediatric stroke center, we identified consecutive children with stroke and vertebral arteriopathy of the V3 segment with adjacent cervical bony or soft tissue abnormalities. We abstracted clinical presentation, treatment, and follow-up data from medical charts. RESULTS: From 2005 to 2019, 10 children (all boys, ages 6-16 years) presented with posterior circulation strokes and vertebral arteriopathy with adjacent cervical pathology. Two children had bony abnormalities: one had a congenital arcuate foramen and one had os odontoideum with cervical instability. In children without bony pathology, vertebral artery narrowing during contralateral head rotation was visualized by digital subtraction angiography. Eight boys had recurrent ischemic events despite anti-thrombotic treatment (including 5 with multiple recurrences) and were treated surgically to prevent additional stroke. Procedures included vertebral artery decompression (n = 6), endovascular stent and spinal fusion (n = 1), and vertebral artery endovascular occlusion (n = 1). In boys treated with decompression, cervical soft tissue abnormalities (ruptured atlantoaxial bursa, ruptured joint capsule, or connective tissue scarring) were directly visualized during open surgery. No other etiology for stroke or dissection was found in any of the cases. Two boys without recurrent stroke were treated with activity restriction and antithrombotics. At a median follow-up of 51 months (range 17-84), there have been no additional recurrences. CONCLUSIONS:Children with V3 segmental vertebral arteriopathy frequently have stroke recurrence despite antithrombotics. Cervical bone imaging and angiography with neck rotation can identify underlying pathology.
Authors: K E Cushing; V Ramesh; D Gardner-Medwin; N V Todd; A Gholkar; P Baxter; P D Griffiths Journal: Dev Med Child Neurol Date: 2001-07 Impact factor: 5.449
Authors: Hansel M Greiner; Todd A Abruzzo; Marielle Kabbouche; James L Leach; Mario Zuccarello Journal: Childs Nerv Syst Date: 2010-10-20 Impact factor: 1.475
Authors: Hasan A Zaidi; Felipe C Albuquerque; Shakeel A Chowdhry; Joseph M Zabramski; Andrew F Ducruet; Robert F Spetzler Journal: World Neurosurg Date: 2014-02-16 Impact factor: 2.104
Authors: Peter B Sporns; Heather J Fullerton; Sarah Lee; Helen Kim; Warren D Lo; Mark T Mackay; Moritz Wildgruber Journal: Nat Rev Dis Primers Date: 2022-02-24 Impact factor: 52.329
Authors: Z Ritchey; T J Bernard; L Z Fenton; J A Maloney; D M Mirsky; I Neuberger; I Sriram; J Seinfeld; N V Stence Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2022-05-12 Impact factor: 4.966
Authors: M Travis Caton; Kazim Narsinh; Amanda Baker; Adib A Abla; Jarod L Roland; Van V Halbach; Christine K Fox; Heather J Fullerton; Steven W Hetts Journal: J Neurosurg Case Lessons Date: 2021-01-18