Table of Contents
What is a PICA infarction?
Some strokes affect the brainstem and cerebellum. The Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA) carries blood to this part of the brain. This stroke (Wallenberg’s Syndrome) causes the person to have balance problems and lean to one side. They may also have numbness on one side of the face and body and an eye droop.
What is the PICA territory of the brain?
The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is the largest branch of the vertebral artery. It is one of the three main arteries that supply blood to the cerebellum, a part of the brain. Blockage of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery can result in a type of stroke called lateral medullary syndrome.
What causes PICA stroke?
Most commonly caused by atherothrombotic occlusion of the vertebral artery (then posterior inferior cerebellar arteray and least often the medullary arteries. Vertebral artery dissection associated with: History of trauma, neck. Underlying collagen vascular disease.
What is a left cerebellar infarct?
Introduction. A cerebellar infarct (or cerebellar stroke) is a type of cerebrovascular event involving the posterior cranial fossa, specifically the cerebellum. Impaired perfusion reduces oxygen delivery and causes deficits in motor and balance control.
What is PICA on an MRI?
The PICA’s 20-minute MRI exam of the Brain is an example of TIME MEDICAL System’s commitment to delivering value, performance and innovation. MRI Innovations Innovation defined: from the Latin innovátus, which means to renew.
What artery is the PICA?
posterior inferior cerebellar artery
The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is the vessel that perfuses the lateral medulla, and is usually occluded due to thrombosis or embolism in its parent vessel, the vertebral artery.
What is a PICA aneurysm?
The PICA is the greatest of the branches of the vertebral artery, and is the causative vessel for aneurysms in the posterior cranial fossa (including dissecting aneurysms), which cause cerebral infarction and cranial nerve compression in many cases.
Where is a left PICA aneurysm?
What is a left PICA aneurysm?
Aneurysms arising from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) are uncommon, accounting for 0.5–3% of all intracranial aneurysms. Symptoms and signs usually include subarachnoid hemorrhage, neck pain, dizziness, and coma.
What is a pica territory infarct?
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery PICA territory infarcts are the most common of the cerebellar strokes and generally produce the largest infarcts. The pathogeneses of PICA territory infarcts are equally divided between intracranial VA athero-occlusive disease and embolism from a cardiac or proximal arterial source.
What is the pathophysiology of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) occlusion?
Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) occlusion may cause infarction of any of the vascular territory of the PICA, namely the posterior inferior cerebellum, inferior cerebellar vermis and lateral medulla. Article: Epidemiology.
What are the signs and symptoms of lateral pica infarction?
In patients with lateral PICA territory cerebellar infarction, the most common symptom at onset is acute unsteadiness, gait ataxia, and unilateral limb ataxia ( Fig. 26-32 ). Compared with medial PICA infarction, lateral PICA territory infarctions rarely produce acute rotatory vertigo and lateropulsion, 304 and are less often associated with LMI.
What is the most frequently involved ischemic region of pica infarct?
The cerebellar branches and choroidal branches of PICA have abundant anastomoses with superior cerebellar artery (SCA) and AICA while medullary branches are lack of anastomoses. Thus, the most frequently involved ischemic region of the PICA infarct is the dorsal lateral medulla supplied by the medullary branches.