Value of parasagittal magnetic resonance images in visualizing the vascular territories of the cerebellum.

ABSTRACT

The outcomes of infarctions of the cerebellar arteries may range from self-limited neuro-ophthalmic symptoms to sudden death. Identification of the affected territory may assist in clinical management because the vascular syndromes, as well as vascular mechanisms of cerebellar infarcts, are different according to the involved cerebellar arteries. However, it is usually difficult to tell the exact vascular territories using only transaxial imagings. Magnetic resonance imaging is a good tool for obtaining parasagittal and coronal images of the cerebellum, which are better for showing the vascular territories. To illustrate this point we report a 61-year-old woman and bilateral cerebellar infarcts (right posterior inferior cerebellar artery and left superior cerebellar artery who had vertigo, vomiting, headache, intermittent vertical diplopia, and difficulty walking. The clinical value of parasagittal imaging of the cerebellum in this case is discussed.