Vertebrobasilar circulatory disorders

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Arteries of the brain

Vertebral column

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency; Posterior circulation ischemia.

• Loss of vision, particularly affecting same part of the visual field on both eyes
• Double vision
• Vertigo (sensation of things spinning around)
• Numbness or tingling
• Nausea and vomiting
• Difficulty swallowing
• Problems with balance
• Poor coordination
• Headache
• Neck ache
• Loss of hearing
• Slurred speech

Tests will be ordered based on what the underlying cause is likely to be. These may include:

• Imaging of the brain, especially CT scans and MRI
• Imaging of the blood vessels including MRI angiography (MRA) or ultrasound
• Computed tomography angiography (CTA), another type of blood vessel imaging
• Imaging of the heart (echocardiogram)
• Conventional angiogram (x-rays of the arteries using injected dye)
• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) -- rarely needed
• Blood tests
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter monitor (a prolonged ECG to look for abnormal heart rhythms)
• X-rays
• Transcranial Doppler (ultrasound of the blood vessels of the skull)

Occasionally, special coagulation (blood clotting) tests are requested when the diagnosis is unclear, to see if the patient has an abnormal tendency to form clots.

Review Date: 09/07/2006
Reviewed By: Kenneth Gross, M.D., Neurology, North Miami, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.