Arteriographic study of cerebrovascular disease. II. Cerebral symptoms due to kinking, tortuosity, and compression of carotid and vertebral arteries in the neck.

Recent advances in radiographic techniques including the use of improved contrast media now permit investigation of cases of cerebrovascular disease by arteriography without undue hazard to the patient. 10,13 During the past 2 years such studies have been performed regularly on cases admitted to Detroit Receiving Hospital with a diagnosis of occlusive cerebrovascular disease, as well as in the investigation of patients with brain tumor, aneurysm, and focal convulsive disorder. The reason for carrying out arteriograms in cases of vascular disease of the brain has been an investigative one in order to obtain better understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of these conditions. Both vertebral and both carotid arteries and their intracranial branches (panarteriography) have now been visualized in over 70 cases of occlusive cerebrovascular disease. In the course of this investigation we have been surprised to find how frequently marked tortuosity and coiling of the extracranial vessels in the