Non-traumatic vertebral artery dissection presenting with unilateral cervical pain, hemilateral vision problems and headache

Abstract

Spontaneous vertebral artery dissection is a rare condition, mainly affecting young adults with non-specific symptoms, which are often considered not severe. We report a case of a non-traumatic vertebral artery dissection in a 30-year-old woman. Our patient presented with unilateral right-sided neck pain and frontal headache during 3 weeks and recently developed right-sided vision problems. History and clinical findings were non-specific. Neurovascular imaging showed a right-sided vertebral artery dissection from C2 to C6 with an intima flap at C5–C6. The patient was observed in the stroke unit for 1 week and antithrombotics were given during 3 months. There was a complete revascularization of the vertebral artery after 3 months. A review of literature is given concerning predisposing factors, clinical symptoms, neurovascular imaging and treatment options.

Keywords:

• Neck pain
• non-traumatic
• unilateral
• vertebral artery dissection

Disclosure statement

For this research, no grant was received from any funding agency in the commercial, public or non-for-profit sectors. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.