Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42144352›Full record

Observational studyNeurologia medico-chirurgica2026

Screening for Mild Vertebral Artery Dissection Using 3-Dimensional T1-weighted Black-blood Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Retrospective Observational Study of 3,049 Consecutive Walk-in Patients Presenting with Headache.

Masanori Wada, Takeshi Asano, Iwao Yamakami, Hajime Yokota, Kentaro Horiguchi, Yoshinori Higuchi

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Neurologia medico-chirurgica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Masanori WadaDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Inagekaigan Neurosurgical Center.
Takeshi AsanoDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Chiba Medical Center.
Iwao YamakamiDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Chiba Medical Center.
Hajime YokotaDiagnostic Radiology and Radiation Oncology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine.
Kentaro HoriguchiDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine.
Yoshinori HiguchiDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Vertebral artery dissection is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. However, many cases of mild vertebral artery dissection-an early disease stage-may be overlooked. 3-dimensional T1-weighted black-blood magnetic resonance imaging has recently emerged as a promising diagnostic tool, yet it remains underutilized. This study investigated the impact of vertebral artery dissection screening in patients presenting with headache, the most common chief complaint encountered in general neurosurgery outpatient clinics, and an initial symptom of vertebral artery dissection, in a real-world clinical setting. We retrospectively reviewed 3,049 consecutive patients with headache who visited a neurosurgical outpatient center in Chiba, Japan (October 2021-October 2023). In the first year, 1,527 patients underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography. In the second year, 1,522 patients received these examinations as well as brain and neck black-blood magnetic resonance imaging. Vertebral artery dissection detection rates were compared between the 2 groups.Vertebral artery dissection was diagnosed in 0.5% and 1.6% of the former and latter groups, respectively (relative risk: 3.42, 95% confidence interval 1.48-7.92, p = 0.003), indicating an over threefold increase in detection. Among patients with intracranial vertebral artery dissection, 96% reported occipital headache rather than nonspecific/generalized headache. Among high-risk individuals aged 40-55 years with occipital or posterior neck pain, the detection rate reached 7.5%. Vertebral artery dissection accounted for 93% of head and neck arterial dissections. The addition of black-blood magnetic resonance imaging significantly improved early detection and may enhance screening accuracy for patients presenting with headache at elevated risk.

Indexed as

HeadacheImaging, Three-DimensionalMagnetic Resonance AngiographyMagnetic Resonance ImagingVertebral Artery DissectionAdultAgedFemaleHumansJapanMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective Studiesheadacheintracranial arterial diseasemagnetic resonance angiographymagnetic resonance imagingvertebral artery dissection

Identifiers

PMID42144352
PMCPMC13441526

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.