What is the PICA in the brain?

What is the PICA in the brain?

The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (or PICA) is an artery that provides blood flow to the cerebellum, a part of the brain located behind the top of the brain stem, which helps with functions related to movement and coordination.

What does PICA stand for artery?

Abbreviations

PICA posterior inferior cerebellar artery
AICA anterior inferior cerebellar artery
PPHA primitive hypoglossal artery
PTA primitive trigeminal artery
SAH subarachnoid hemorrhage

What is bilateral cerebellar infarcts?

Patients with bilateral cerebellar infarction may solely have symptoms of vertigo and ataxia but can develop life-threatening complications because of edema of the infarcted tissue with resultant hydrocephalus and pressure on the brainstem.

What is bilateral cerebellar hemisphere?

the largest regions of the cerebellum, the cerebellar hemispheres are two divisions of the cerebellum on either side of the vermis. They are functionally subdivided into lateral and medial portions. See spinocerebellum and cerebrocerebellum.

How serious is a PICA stroke?

The Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA) carries blood to this part of the brain. This stroke (Wallenberg’s Syndrome) causes the person to have balance problems and lean to one side. They may also have numbness on one side of the face and body and an eye droop. They may have hoarseness and trouble swallowing.

What is PICA on an MRI?

Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is one of the three vessels that provide arterial supply to the cerebellum.

What causes a PICA stroke?

PICA may arise from the vertebral artery (the usual case), or as a separate branch of the basilar artery. Because of the far more common origin from the vertebral artery, most “PICA” syndrome strokes actually are due to vertebral artery occlusion (Kim 2003).

What is a pica stroke?

Is a cerebellar infarct a stroke?

A cerebellar infarct (or cerebellar stroke) is a type of cerebrovascular event involving the posterior cranial fossa, specifically the cerebellum. Impaired perfusion reduces oxygen delivery and causes deficits in motor and balance control.

What causes a pica stroke?

How is Wallenberg syndrome treated?

Treatment for Wallenberg syndrome focuses primarily on relieving symptoms and rehabilitation. A feeding tube may be needed for severe swallowing problems. Speech and/or swallowing therapy may be helpful. Medications may be used to control pain.

Is the PICA an enlarged lateral spinal artery?

The idea is that the medullary segment of the PICA is, in fact, an enlarged lateral spinal artery, whereas the vermian and cerebellar branches of the PICA are “coronary” type vessels originating from the “lateral spinal — PICA”, in the same way that SCA and AICA are coronary vessels of the ASA. Here are some “proofs” of the concept:

What do you think about the Pica?

The PICA is a truly fascinating vessel. Its evolution in terms of cerebellar supply and secondary balance with superior cerebellar artery and AICA, give rise to unprecedented variability.

What is the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)?

At the bottom, the Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA) is the latest addition to cerebellar supply, Unlike AICA and SCA, it seems to arise from the lateral spinal system (yet nervertheless also a coronary artery homolog). The vermian arteries (of which only inferior is shown here) may be regarded as homologs of the sulco-comissural vessels.

What is the pathophysiology of pica infarct?

Due to the small confined area in the inferior aspect of the posterior cranial fossa, the swelling caused by a PICA infarct can lead to significant mass effect and midline shift which may mimic a cerebellar mass such as a primary brain tumor or metastasis. 1. Tohgi H, Takahashi S, Chiba K et-al. Cerebellar infarction.