PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ouyang, Zhi-yuan
AU  - Qiu, Min-jian
AU  - Zhao, Zhe
AU  - Wu, Xiao-bing
AU  - Tong, Lu-sha
TI  - Congenital anomaly of the posterior arch of the atlas: a rare risk factor for posterior circulation stroke
AID  - 10.1136/bcr-2016-012731
DP  - 2017 Jan 04
TA  - BMJ Case Reports
PG  - bcr2016012731
VI  - 2017
4099  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2017/bcr-2016-012731.short
4100  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2017/bcr-2016-012731.full
AB  - We report an extremely rare case involving a posterior arch anomaly of the atlas, causing a vertebral artery dissection (VAD) induced posterior circulation stroke. A 16-year-old girl was admitted to hospital because of new onset dizziness. VAD related multiple infarction in the posterior circulation was revealed. The congenital posterior arch anomaly of the atlas, along with instability of the atlantoaxial joint, were discovered accidentally during follow-up. This is the first case of ischemic stroke related to atlantal posterior arch aplasia and atlantoaxial instability. Although rare, it reminds us that investigation of the craniovertebral junction should be considered when stroke occurs in young patients.