Summary
Five angiographically confirmed cases of ectasia of the basilar artery are described. Three patients presented with the classical combination of lower cranial nerve, bulbar, cerebellar and long tract signs and dementia, one as obstructive hydrocephalus with papilloedema, and the fifth with symptoms of chiasmal compression. All were above middle age and hypertensive. CT scanning demonstrated a partially calcified, tubular, enhancing prepontine and suprasellar mass in every case. Ventricular enlargement and cerebral parenchymal abnormalities were also present. These appearances are sufficiently characteristic to make invasive radiological investigation unnecessary.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Azar-Kia, B., Palacios, E., Spak, M.: The megadolichobasilar artery anomaly and expansion of the internal auditory meatus. Neuroradiology 11, 109–111 (1976)
Bladin, P.F., Donnan, M.G.F.: Cerebral arterial ectasia. Clin. Radiol. 14, 349–352 (1963)
Boeri, R., Passerini, A.: The megadolichobasilar anomaly. J. Neurol. Sci. 1, 475–484 (1964)
Carella, A., Caruso, G., Lamberti, P.: Hemifacial spasm due to elongation and ectasia of the distal portion of the vertebral artery. Neuroradiology 6, 233–236 (1973)
Columella, F., Beduschi, A., Papo, I.: Un interesante caso de arteriosclerosi cerebrale. Chirurgia 10, 302–306 (1955)
Courville, C.B.: Arteriosclerotic aneurysms of the circle of Willis. Some notes on their morphology and pathogenesis. Bull. Los Angeles Neurol. Soc. 27, 1–13 (1962)
Dandy, W.E.: Intracranial arterial aneurysms. Ithaca Comstock 1945
Danziger, J., Bloch, S.: Intracranial aneurysms presenting as mass lesions. Clin. Radiol. 26, 267–273 (1975)
Dettori, P., Cristi, G., Dalbuono, S.: Anomalia megadolicobasilare. Studio clinico-radiologico di 8 casi. Radiol. Med. 52, 1259–1273 (1966)
Franck, G., Reznik, M., Thibaut, A.: Étude clinique et anatomique d'un cas de clonies vélo-pharyngo-laryngées secondaires a un anévrysme fusiforme athéroscléreux du tronc vertébro-basilaire. Rev. Neurol. 113, 56–67 (1965)
Frasson, F., Ferrari, G., Fugazzola, C., Fiaschi, A.: Megadolichobasilar anomaly causing a brainstem syndrome. Neuroradiology 13, 279–281 (1977)
Géraud, J., Rascol, A., Bès, A., Arbus, L., Bénazet, A. M.: Anévrysme fusiforme vertébro-basilaire à symptomatologie pseudotumoral. (Étude clinique et radiologique). Rev. Neurol. 110, 66–72 (1964)
Greitz, T., Ekbom, K., Kugelberg, E., Breig, A.: Occult hydrocephalus due to ectasia of the basilar artery. Acta Radiol. 9, 310–316 (1969)
Greitz, T., Löfstedt, S.: The third ventricle and the basilar artery. Acta Radiol. 42, 85–100 (1954)
Guilain, G., Schmitte, P., Bertrand, I.: Anévrysme du tronc basilaire ayant determiné la symptomatologie d'une tumeur de l'angle ponto-cérébelleux. Rev. Neurol. 1, 795–892 (1930)
Jamieson, K.G.: Aneurysms of the vertebrobasilar system. Surgical intervention in 19 cases. J. Neurosurg. 21, 781–797 (1969)
Katf, N.Y., Tatlow, W.F.T.: Two cases of vertebral-basilar aneurysm. Canad. Med. Ass. J. 92, 471–474 (1965)
Kendall, B.E., Clavería, L.E., Quiroga, W.: CAT in leukodystrophy and neuronal degenerations. In: First european seminar on computerised axial tomography in clinical practice, pp. 191–202 (eds. G.H. Du Boulay, I.F. Moseley.) Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Springer 1977
Masson, M., Cambier, J.: Les anévrysmes vertébro-basilaires. La dolichmégabasilaire. Rev. du Prat. 17, 2759–2769 (1967)
Morgnani 1761. Quoted, without citation, by Pribram et al. (q.v.)
Peterson, N.T., Duchesneau, P.M., Westbrook, E.L., Weinstein, M.A.: Basilar artery ectasia demonstrated by computer tomography. Radiology 122, 713–715 (1977)
Pribram, H.F., Hudson, J.D., Joynt, M.D.: Posterior fossa aneurysms presenting as mass lesions. Am. J. Roentgenol. 105, 334–340 (1969)
Rozario, R.A., Levine, H.L., Scott, R.M.: Obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to an ectatic basilar artery. Surg. Neurol. 9, 31–34 (1978)
Scott, M., Stauffer, H.M.: A case of aneurysmal malformation of the vertebral and basilar arteries causing cranial nerve involvement. Am. J. Roentgenol. 92, 836–837 (1964)
Scotti, G., De Grandi, C., Colombo, A.: Ectasia of the intracranial arteries diagnosed by computed tomography. Megadolichobasilar artery: CT diagnosis. Neuroradiology 13, 183–184 (1978)
Tridon, P., Masingue, M., Picard, L., Briquel, F., Roland, J.: Hemispasme facial et mégadolichobasilaire à symptomatologie pseudotumorale. Rev. Otoneuroophtalmol. 43, 279–286 (1971)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moseley, I.F., Holland, I.M. Ectasia of the basilar artery: The breadth of the clinical spectrum and the diagnostic value of computed tomography. Neuroradiology 18, 83–91 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344828
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00344828