Go Back Brain/17. Vessel/Vascular Disorder/17.7 - Basilar artery thrombosis/ Go to Index

Mortality 2.5X higher than for ICA occlusion

Secondary to embolism, atherosclerosis, BOS AVMs, syphilis, Tb, and fungal meningitis

Top-of-the-basilar syndrome: infarction of thalami, post limb of internal capsules, and midbrain

Locked-in syndrome: infarction of pons with retained consciousness and voluntary eye movements with quadriparesis

IA thrombolysis often attempted secondary to high mortality

Most literature concerns anterior circulation, particularly supraclinoid ICA and M1

Reported incidence in acute stroke 25-50% in anterior circulation, similar incidence in posterior circulation in limited series