Successful thrombectomy of top-of-the-basilar artery occlusion - difficult to detect in clinical practice: A case report

Abstract

Top-of-the-basilar artery occlusion frequently causes infarction of the midbrain, thalamus, and portions of the temporal and occipital lobes as the vascular supply of these regions comes from the posterior communicating and posterior cerebral arterial tributaries of the basilar artery. Clinical signs include an array of visual, oculomotor, and behavioral abnormalities, usually without prominent motor dysfunction, which makes diagnosis challenging for those inexperienced with these sign. We describe a 59-year-old male presenting with acute ischemic stroke due to top-of-the-basilar artery occlusion. Despite attempting several paraclinical examinations relating the sudden coma with Glasgow Coma Scale of 6 points, the neuroimaging detected the large vessel occlusion that was difficult to recognize. After confirming top-of-the-basilar artery occlusion, the recanalization was realized immediately. The patient was discharged with good clinical recovery.

Keywords

• Top-of-the-basilar artery
• Occlusion
• Thrombectomy
• Recanalization