The evaluation of occipital lobe atrophy by computerized tomography before consideration of vertebral artery reconstructive surgery.

Occipital lobe atrophy can be identified on CT. In a review of 90 selected cases with brain ischemia symptoms, 45 cases were found to have hindbrain ischemia with symptoms of vertigo and/or 'blurred vision.' Ten cases (22%) had normal CT studies and 35 cases (78%) had abnormal CT studies. The CT brain scan of the cerebellum and occipital lobes has a place in determining whether a patient with clinical hindbrain ischemia is a candidate for angiography and vertebral artery bypass surgery.