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Posterior circulation ischemic stroke—a review part II: imaging and acute treatment

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Abstract

Posterior circulation strokes affect the vertebrobasilar arterial system, account for about 20–25% of all ischemic strokes, and are a significant cause of patient disability and mortality. Diagnosis can be challenging; clinical presentation and common pitfalls facing posterior circulation stroke have been discussed elsewhere. In the first part of the review, we focus on the imaging, discussing the information that can be gathered through a correct selection and interpretation of different possible studies helping to achieve an early diagnosis and to select the best medical treatment. In the second part of the review, we will discuss the best therapeutic treatments available at the moment for posterior circulation ischemia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurology with Stroke Unit, Department of Neurosciences, A.O. “San Pio”, P.O. “G. Rummo”, Via Dell’Angelo 1, 82100, Benevento, BN, Italy

    Marco Sparaco

  2. Stroke Unit, Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Ospedale Civile S.Agostino-Estense, Modena University Hospital, Modena, LC, Italy

    Ludovico Ciolli

  3. UOC Neurologia e Rete Stroke metropolitana, Ospedale Maggiore, IRCCS Istituto di Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, AZ, Italy

    Andrea Zini

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  1. Marco Sparaco
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  2. Ludovico Ciolli
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  3. Andrea Zini
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Contributions

Dr. Sparaco: study design, manuscript drafting/revising, and study supervision

Dr. Ciolli and Dr. Zini: manuscript drafting/revising

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Correspondence to Marco Sparaco.

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We performed a review of the literature about the state of art of vertebrobasilar stroke; therefore, our work involves neither human participants nor experiments on animals.

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Marco Sparaco reports no disclosures.

Ludovico Ciolli reports no disclosures.

Andrea Zini reports received con consultancy and speaker fees from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Medtronic, Stryker, Daiichi Sankyo.

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Sparaco, M., Ciolli, L. & Zini, A. Posterior circulation ischemic stroke—a review part II: imaging and acute treatment. Neurol Sci 40, 2007–2015 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-03936-x

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