Isolated Posterior Cerebral Artery Dissection: Report of Three Cases

摘要

Isolated dissection of the posterior cerebral artery (pCA) is a rare but important cause of stroke in younger patients, particularly women. We present three cases of dissection of the P2 segment of the PCA. In two patients, an association with minor axial head trauma was documented, suggesting shearing injury of the PCA as it crosses over the free edge of the tentorium. The clinical and imaging findings are discussed, and the therapeutic management is reviewed. Extracranial and intracranial arterial dissection is an important cause of stroke in younger patients. Intracranial arterial dissections most often involve the vertebrobasilar system and, less commonly, the middle and anterior cerebral arteries. Isolated dissection of the PCA is rare, but accurate diagnosis is important for appropriate clinical management. We present three cases of dissection of the P2 segment of the PCA, two of which occurred in association with minor head trauma.