Traumatic Entrapment of the Vertebral Artery Demonstrated by a 3D Angiographic Study.

BACKGROUND: Vertebrobasilar artery entrapment resulting from a clivus fracture is rare. The entrapped lesions are not radiographically depicted precisely because they are only identified by autopsy or completely occluded. In addition, no changes in the features have been revealed clearly because radiologic examinations were performed only in the acute stage. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a case of traumatic entrapment of the vertebral artery depicted precisely by a three-dimensional angiographic study in the subacute stage, presenting the serial changes in the morphologic features and a review of the published cases. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to manage vertebrobasilar artery entrapment cautiously because it is suggested that the entrapped lesion is accompanied by arterial dissection.