Carotid ultrasound features of anomalous left vertebral artery originating from the aortic arch proximal to the left subclavian artery. Issue 2 (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wakita, Masayuki; Takei, Ran; Miyashita, Fumio; Hamada, Yuki; Ohyama, Satoshi; Matsuoka, Hideki; Takashima, Hiroshi
• Is Part Of: Neuroradiology journal. Volume 30:Issue 2(2017:Apr.)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 171
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: Aortic arch -- Doppler ultrasonography -- transverse foramen -- variation -- vertebral artery; Nervous system -- Radiography -- Periodicals; Neuroradiography -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.804757
• DOI: 10.1177/1971400916687585
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1971-4009

Abstract

We present three cases of anomalous origin of the left vertebral artery (LVA) detected during the evaluation of stroke. The VA usually enters the transverse foramen of the sixth cervical vertebra (C6), but an anomalous LVA originating from the aorta frequently enters at a higher level. In our series, ultrasound of the LVA showed entry at C4 in two patients and at C5 in one patient. These findings suggested anomalous LVA origin, and three-dimensional computed tomography demonstrated the LVA arising from the aorta proximal to the left subclavian arteries. Carotid duplex ultrasound is useful for the diagnosis of this anomaly.