Vertebral Artery Dissection in a 5-year-old Child: Serial Magnetic Resonance Angiography Appearance

TW Fan, KW Tang, KF Chan, SP Wu

Hong Kong J Radiol 2003;6:158-61

This report is of a 5-year-old boy presenting with complex partial seizures. These were subsequently found to be due to vertebral artery dissection by magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography. Serial changes of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography appearance of vertebral artery dissection are presented. The imaging findings of this patients are quite unique in that they show that recanalisation of the dissected vessel may occur with occlusion of the previously unaffected segments. Risk factors, clinical features, and imaging tools useful for establishing the diagnosis are reviewed. This patient demonstrates the importance of considering vertebral artery dissection for paediatric patients with posterior fossa infarction and suggest that magnetic resonance imaging and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography of the neck is useful for establishing the diagnosis and management of these patients.