Causes of misinterpretation of cross-sectional imaging studies for dissection of the craniocervical arteries.

Abstract

This review presents some of the more common causes of false-positive and false-negative interpretations of cross-sectional imaging studies showing, or designed to show, dissection of the carotid or vertebral arteries. Dissection of the craniocervical arteries is a diagnosis that can be very difficult on cross-sectional imaging studies such as CT angiography, MRI, and MR angiography.