Need Help Understanding Turmous Arteries and Ectatic Arteries

[butterflywarrior]

Hi!

I'm brand new to the group and was hoping someone might be able to help me understand a few terms on my MRA report, which was done because my neurologist felt my symptoms indicated I wasn't getting enough blood/oxygen to my brain.

The findings made mention of " tortuous distal cervical internal carotid arteries which are also mildly ectatic".  Also, the distal cervical leftand right internal carotid arteries are tortuous and the left corodid aortic arch has a torus origin.

Is this tortuousness a pretty common thing?  Would it corroborate the reduced blood flow suspicions?  Does it normally require any treatment?  I've got a follow-up appointment in just over a week, but of course I'm trying to figure some of this out before then so I'm better prepared for what I may hear.

Thanks!

[butterflywarrior]

Thank you!    That definately provides some insight...and I've been waiting months to have some definative answers to a host of disturbing symptoms.

[kenkeith]

Malformation of the internal carotid artery can be tortuous (twist and turns of the vessel)or have kinks. It is not a common condition, but a tortuous carotid artery can/will reduce blood flow to the brain.  Ectatic indicates some enlargement. "Some patients with kinks of the internal carotid artery will have episodes of cerebrovascular insufficiency related to the position of their heads. Some patients with kinks of the internal carotid artery will have episodes of cerebrovascular insufficiency related to the position of their heads"...that would indicate diminished blood flow.

Hope this provides some insight into the condition you are experiencing.