Occipital-vertebral anastomosis (O-V anastomosis) is a common collateral anastomosis between the external carotid and the vertebro-basilar system. But symptomatic O-V anastomosis is rare. We report a case with syncope and vertebrobasilar insufficiency caused by O-V anastomosis. It was thought that the vertebral steal phenomenon through this anastomotic channel caused these symptoms.
RichterHR: Collateral between external carotid artery and vertebral artery in cases of thrombosis of internal carotid artery. Acta Radiol Stockh40: 108–112, 1953.
2.
SchechterMM: The occipital-vertebral anastomosis. J Neurosurg21: 758–762, 1964.
3.
TakahashiHYamaguchiK: Four cases of occipital-vertebral anastomosis. No to Shinkei23: 1315–1319, 1971.