Vertebral artery loop causing radiculopathy
Updates to Case Attributes
This case is a classic presentation of a rare entity of vertebral artery loop causing radiculopathy. Vertebral artery loop formation can also cause bony erosions or vertebrobasillar insufficiency, which are more frequent. A good initial prognostic sign in classic radiography is neural foramen enlargement, which was not seen in this case and could cause a possible misdiagnosis.
This is a very important cause of radiculopathy because of possible negative sequelae if missed on imaging i.e. cervical spine CT. Neurosurgical attempt of discectomy is likely to cause vertebral artery injury.
In the final report, we suggested CT angiography for confirmation (unfortunately further history is unknown as this was an outsourced examination for a patient treated in a different hospital).
-<p>This case is a classic presentation of a rare entity of vertebral artery loop causing radiculopathy. Vertebral artery loop formation can also cause bony erosions or vertebrobasillar insufficiency, which are more frequent. A good initial prognostic sign in classic radiography is neural foramen enlargement, which was not seen in this case and could cause a possible misdiagnosis. </p><p>This is a very important cause of radiculopathy because of possible negative sequelae if missed on imaging i.e. cervical spine CT. Neurosurgical attempt of discectomy is likely to cause vertebral artery injury. </p><p>In the final report we suggested CT angiography for confirmation (unfortunately further history is unknown as this was an outsourced examination for a patient treated in a different hospital). </p>- +<p>This case is a classic presentation of a rare entity of vertebral artery loop causing radiculopathy. Vertebral artery loop formation can also cause bony erosions or vertebrobasillar insufficiency, which are more frequent. A good initial prognostic sign in classic radiography is neural foramen enlargement, which was not seen in this case and could cause a possible misdiagnosis. </p><p>This is a very important cause of radiculopathy because of possible negative sequelae if missed on imaging i.e. cervical spine CT. Neurosurgical attempt of discectomy is likely to cause vertebral artery injury. </p><p>In the final report, we suggested CT angiography for confirmation (unfortunately further history is unknown as this was an outsourced examination for a patient treated in a different hospital). </p>
References changed:
- 1. Kim H, Lee J, Cheh G, Lee S. Cervical Radiculopathy Caused by Vertebral Artery Loop Formation : A Case Report and Review of the Literature. J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2010;48(5):465. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2010.48.5.465">doi:10.3340/jkns.2010.48.5.465</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21286489">Pubmed</a>
- 1. Kim HS, Lee JH, Cheh G, Lee S-H. Cervical Radiculopathy Caused by Vertebral Artery Loop Formation : A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society. 2010;48(5):465-468. doi:10.3340/jkns.2010.48.5.465.
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