Question 1

cta neck: no evidence of occlusion, significant stenosis, or dissection of the cervical carotid or vertebral arteries. trace atherosclerotic disease of the left carotid siphon what does this mean ?

Accepted Answer

: It is an almost normal study. Trace atherosclerotic vascular disease is commonly seen in Americans at your age. However, I still suggest a lipid panel if it has not been done yet in the previous 12 months just to make sure your numbers are in ranges.

Question 2

i had ct/angio of neck they found minimal aortic arch calcification, mild ectasia of the proximal left vertebral artery over a focal segment.

Accepted Answer

Not significant: Those findings are unimportant. Why was the study done in the first place?

Question 3

is it to do with blood flow, when i get pain over my carotid and vertebral artery - right side, associated with terrible migraines?

Accepted Answer

No: The old notion of migraines being caused by variations in blood flow due to arterial constriction and dilation was disproved decades ago. Any pain you're feeling over those places (I suspect your anatomical knowledge needs work) is "referred" from pain-sensitive structures in the cerebral meninges.

Question 4

what's it like to have a stent in either carotid or vertebral artery?

Accepted Answer

Placed in both: I have experience in deploying stents in both carotid and vertebral arteries. Mostly these are treated with surgery but stenting is a viable option in select group of patients who are not candidates for surgery.

Question 5

mra scan showed right vertebral artery much smaller than left. is this a problem? i get a lot of migraines and pain in right carotid and vertebral art

Accepted Answer

Not at all: Not unusual to have asymmetric size of vertebral arteries, and this is merely an anatomic variant, having NOTHING TO DO with your migraines.

Question 6

can a carotid or vertebral artery dissection (no trauma/injury) be slow developing over a couple months, or is it always within a day or week maximum?

Accepted Answer

Yes and no: The mode of onset can APPEAR gradual when it is in fact stepwise, but even a gradually progressive arterial dissection tends to manifest suddenly when it reaches its maximum extent. You’ve asked a good question. The mode of onset of an arterial dissection is often difficult to determine exactly because they can be asymptomatic in the early stages.

Question 7

what does it mean "normal vascular flow voids are present in the distal carotid and vertebral arteries, the
basilar artery and the proximal anterior, ?

Accepted Answer

Normal arteries: Since the blood is moving during an MRI, the inside of the blood vessels appears to be a "flow void".  This is the language used to report normal-appearing blood vessels.

Question 8

what is right vertebral artery is mildly hypoplastic?

Accepted Answer

Congenital: You were born with it that way and it doesn't matter, so forget about it. Your left vertebral artery, left carotid and right carotid are handling the supply for you.

Question 9

hello - how is possible placque detected/measured in vertebral and carotid arteries?

Accepted Answer

Varies: There are a variety of ways.  Probably to most common is to evaluate the blood flow through a artery in a test known as an ultrasound; other tests can include an angiogram, a ct angiogram, or direct visualization of the plaque in surgery.

Question 10

i have a vertebral artery dolichoectasia compressing my brainstem.  search my vids on youtube typing "engelman brainstem compression". what d u think?

Accepted Answer

Vertebral artery: Compression of the brain stem by a vertebral artery can cause many neurological signs based on the location of the compressed brain and the exiting cranial nerves. A cerebrovascular surgeon can determine whether the vertebral artery is causing symptoms and develop a treatment plan.

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Doctor answers about:

Calcification along the carotid siphons and the let distal vertebral artery

A member asked:

Cta neck: no evidence of occlusion, significant stenosis, or dissection of the cervical carotid or vertebral arteries. trace atherosclerotic disease of the left carotid siphon what does this mean ?

A member asked:

I had ct/angio of neck they found minimal aortic arch calcification, mild ectasia of the proximal left vertebral artery over a focal segment.

A member asked:

Is it to do with blood flow, when i get pain over my carotid and vertebral artery - right side, associated with terrible migraines?

A member asked:

What's it like to have a stent in either carotid or vertebral artery?

A member asked:

Mra scan showed right vertebral artery much smaller than left. is this a problem? i get a lot of migraines and pain in right carotid and vertebral art

A member asked:

Can a carotid or vertebral artery dissection (no trauma/injury) be slow developing over a couple months, or is it always within a day or week maximum?

A member asked:

What does it mean "normal vascular flow voids are present in the distal carotid and vertebral arteries, the basilar artery and the proximal anterior, ?

A member asked:

What is right vertebral artery is mildly hypoplastic?

A member asked:

Hello - how is possible placque detected/measured in vertebral and carotid arteries?

A member asked:

I have a vertebral artery dolichoectasia compressing my brainstem. search my vids on youtube typing "engelman brainstem compression". what d u think?

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