Fenestration of the posteroinferior cerebellar artery: case report

Neurosurgery. 2000 Aug;47(2):463-5. doi: 10.1097/00006123-200008000-00041.

Abstract

Objective and importance: Fenestrations of cerebral arteries are rare, but very important to diagnose given their high association with saccular aneurysms. We present the first reported case of a fenestration of the posteroinferior cerebellar artery (PICA).

Clinical presentation: A 62-year-old man who presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage underwent repeated four-vessel cerebral angiography. An isolated right PICA abnormality consistent with a dissection or fenestration was revealed.

Intervention: The patient underwent surgical exploration of his PICA, which confirmed a PICA fenestration without an associated saccular aneurysm. The fenestration was wrapped with cotton.

Conclusion: Our case report illustrates the novel anatomic finding of a fenestration of the PICA. Knowledge of this entity would be helpful in the differential diagnosis of a posterior fossa subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cerebellum / blood supply*
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Cerebral Arteries / abnormalities
  • Cerebral Arteries / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Arteries / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / complications
  • Subtraction Technique
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed