Basilar Artery: Control Study of Conventional CT Findings and Clinic Profiles in Patients with Dizziness and Vertigo

Objective To analyze the relation between dizziness or vertigo in aged patients and the basilar artery(BA) images on conventional CT. Methods The conventional CT images of 815 BAs were observed and measured. The density, diameter, hight, and position of the BA images for 151 aged patients above 50 with dizziness and vertigo were analyzed and compared with those of patients without dizziness or vertigo. Results The average density and diameter of the BA of patients with dizziness or vertigo were higher than those of the group without dizziness or vertigo. The P values were 0.003 and 0.036, respectively. The CT values of 85% cases in the group without dizziness or vertigo were from 20 to 44.6Hu, while 30.5% cases in the group with dizziness or vertigo had CT values greater than 44.6Hu. The position and height of the two groups had no difference. Conclusion The increase of CT values and diameters of the BA for patients with dizziness or vertigo on conventional brain computed tomography plain scan probably indicates vascular induced vertigo. Further examinations are necessary to exclude BA diseases.