Posterior cerebral artery (PCA) infarct
Updates to Article Attributes
Posterior cerebral artery (PCA) infarcts arise, as the name says, from occlusion of the posterior cerebral artery. It is a type of posterior circulation infarction.
Clinical presentation
Symptoms of posterior cerebral artery stroke include contralateral homonymous haemianopia (due to occipital infarction), hemisensory loss (due to thalamic infarction) and hemi-body pain (usually burning in nature and due to thalamic infarction) 3. If bilateral, often there is reduced visual-motor coordination 3. It is generally considered that sensory loss and hemianopia unilaterally without paralysis, is diagnostic of PCA territory stroke4.
Because the PCA supplies the thalamus, PCA infarction can lead to contralateral thalamic syndrome.
Aetiology
The most common causes of PCA strokes include atherosclerosis, small artery disease and embolism 5.
Treatment
Depending on the timing (within 4.5 hours), patients may be eligible for thrombolysis 4. If they preset after this window, patients may be suitable candidates for endovascvualrendovascular treatments (including stenting, angioplasty, mechanical embolectomy etc) 5.
The size of the vessel and unclear symptoms onset can make the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke challenging 5.
-<![endif]--><!--StartFragment-->Symptoms of posterior cerebral artery stroke include contralateral homonymous haemianopia (due to occipital infarction), hemisensory loss (due to thalamic infarction) and hemi-body pain (usually burning in nature and due to thalamic infarction) <sup>3</sup>. If bilateral, often there is reduced visual-motor coordination <sup>3</sup>. It is generally considered that sensory loss and hemianopia unilaterally without paralysis, is diagnostic of PCA territory stroke<sup>4</sup>.</p><p>Because the PCA supplies the thalamus, PCA infarction can lead to contralateral thalamic syndrome.</p><p> </p><h4>Aetiology <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>- +<![endif]--><!--StartFragment-->Symptoms of posterior cerebral artery stroke include contralateral homonymous haemianopia (due to occipital infarction), hemisensory loss (due to thalamic infarction) and hemi-body pain (usually burning in nature and due to thalamic infarction) <sup>3</sup>. If bilateral, often there is reduced visual-motor coordination <sup>3</sup>. It is generally considered that sensory loss and hemianopia unilaterally without paralysis, is diagnostic of PCA territory stroke <sup>4</sup>.</p><p>Because the PCA supplies the thalamus, PCA infarction can lead to contralateral thalamic syndrome.</p><h4>Aetiology <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
-</h4><p>The most common causes of PCA strokes include atherosclerosis, small artery disease and embolism <sup>5</sup>.</p><p> </p><h4>Treatment </h4><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>- +</h4><p>The most common causes of PCA strokes include atherosclerosis, small artery disease and embolism <sup>5</sup>.</p><h4>Treatment </h4><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
-<![endif]--><!--StartFragment-->Depending on the timing (within 4.5 hours), patients may be eligible for thrombolysis 4. If they preset after this window, patients may be suitable candidates for endovascvualr treatments (including stenting, angioplasty, mechanical embolectomy etc) <sup>5</sup>.</p><p>The size of the vessel and unclear symptoms onset can make the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke challenging <sup>5</sup>.</p><p><!--EndFragment--></p><p><!--EndFragment--></p><p><!--EndFragment--></p>- +<![endif]--><!--StartFragment-->Depending on the timing (within 4.5 hours), patients may be eligible for thrombolysis <sup>4</sup>. If they preset after this window, patients may be suitable candidates for endovascular treatments (including stenting, angioplasty, mechanical embolectomy etc) <sup>5</sup>.</p><p>The size of the vessel and unclear symptoms onset can make the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke challenging <sup>5</sup>.</p><p><!--EndFragment--></p><p><!--EndFragment--></p><p><!--EndFragment--></p>
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