We studied 91 patients with proximal intracranial territory posterior circulation ischemia from the New England Medical Center Posterior Circulation Registry to learn their distribution, underlying cardiovascular causes and long-term outcome. All patients had imaging and vascular studies. Six patients had proximal territory TIAs. Among 85 stroke patients, 52% had infarcts limited to the proximal territory, while 48% also had infarcts in other intracranial posterior circulation territories. Eighty-five percent of proximal territory infarcts were posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) territory cerebellar infarcts and 30% were lateral medullary infarcts. One patient had a hemi-medullary syndrome. Six patients had PICA territory cerebellar and lateral medullary infarcts. The most common vascular lesion in lateral medullary infarct patients was ipsilateral intracranial vertebral artery (ICVA) disease (38% isolated ICVA disease) and in PICA territory cerebellar infarcts, extra-cranial vertebral artery (ECVA) disease (29% isolated ECVA disease). Half of all lateral medullary infarcts were due to a hemodynamic mechanism, most often in situ thrombosis of an ICVA occlusive lesion. Half of all PICA territory cerebellar infarcts were due to intra-arterial embolism and one-fifth to cardiac origin embolism. Embolism was a more frequent cause of proximal territory posterior circulation infarcts than intrinsic ICVA disease. The etiological profiles of lateral medullary and PICA cerebellar infarcts were different. Seventeen percent of all patients died during follow-up (41 months) but mortality related to the acute stroke or new strokes was only 6 percent. The outcome was favorable in the surviving patients; 89% had no or only slight disability.

Keywords:
Posterior circulation territory, Infarcts, Intracranial vertebral artery disease, Extracranial vertebral artery disease
© 1997 S. Karger AG, Basel
1997
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.