Aortic dissection presenting as posterior circulation stroke

Athappan G, Chengat V, Unnikrishnan A, Chandraprakasam S, Kumar S, Ganesh N
Correspondence: Dr Ganesh Athappan, ganeshathappan@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Aortic dissection is a rare and life-threatening event. While pain is the most common symptom of aortic dissection, it may be absent in ten percent of patients and present with a myriad of symptoms suggestive of a diverse range of other conditions. A high index of clinical suspicion is mandatory for the accurate and rapid diagnosis of aortic dissection. We report a 25-year-old woman with aortic dissection presenting as a posterior circulation stroke. This combination is very rare.

Keywords: aortic disease, aortic dissection, cerebellar infarct, cerebrovascular accident, chronic aortic dissection, posterior circulation stroke, stroke
Singapore Med J 2009; 50(1): e35-e38