Fibromuscular Dysplasia of the Posterior Cerebral Artery: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Abstract

A case of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) of the posterior cerebral artery with classic presumptive angiographical findings is presented, and the literature pertaining to FMD of the cervical arteries is reviewed. The focal neurological findings and characteristic changing pattern seen on sequential brain scans clearly associate the presence of this lesion to cerebral infarction. Various proposed etiologies and the characteristic pathological and radiological appearance of FMD are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the potential for this lesion to produce significant clinical sequelae, and on the relationship between FMD and the presence of intracranial aneurysms. The natural history and proper treatment remain uncertain; however, the general impression is for slow progression of existing lesions associated with development of new lesions in other locations.