The imaging features of intracranial vertebral artery dissection evolving into vertebral dissecting aneurysm

Objective To explore the imaging features of vertebral artery dissection evolving into vertebral dissecting aneurysm. Methods Analyzing the clinical data and image of one patient with the intracranial vertebral artery dissection evolving into vertebral dissecting aneurysm, and the relevant literatures were reviewed. Results During the headache, head computed tomography (CT) scan showed a possible arterial aneurysm at the end of basilar artery, the head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that there was a possible arterial aneurysm at the intersection of right vertebral artery and basilar artery.Furthermore, on the digital subtraction angiography (DSA) image, right vertebral artery had linear intima which meant right artery dissection.Seven months later, DSA image revealed an artery ectasia in right vertebral artery which was considered as the evolution from right vertebral dissection into aneurysm dissecting. Conclusions Even though the patient feel better, the risk of vertebral artery dissection evolving into dissecting aneurysm is high.Therefore, for patients with intracranial vertebral artery dissection, follow-up visit and reexamination are necessary. Key words: Headache; Vertebral artery dissection; Aneurysm, dissecting; Imaging features