Clinical Image-Vertebral artery beading in a child with Beta Thalassemia major

Shiji Chalipat; Vishwanath Kulkarni; Jayanth Krishna; Allan Mathew; Shailaja Mane

doi:10.1093/omcr/omaf023

Clinical Image-Vertebral artery beading in a child with Beta Thalassemia major

Oxf Med Case Reports. 2025 May 28;2025(5):omaf023. doi: 10.1093/omcr/omaf023. eCollection 2025 May.

Authors

Shiji Chalipat¹, Vishwanath Kulkarni¹, Jayanth Krishna¹, Allan Mathew¹, Shailaja Mane¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Paediatrics, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pimpri, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Maharashtra, India-411018.

Abstract

Vertebral artery beading is an uncommon, vascular complication associated with various systemic conditions. We describe the vascular imaging of a 11-year-old boy with Beta Thalassemia Major who developed acute ataxia following a splenectomy. MR angiography revealed a notable finding: symmetric, bilateral vertebral artery beading; while Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) was normal. This case highlights an intriguing imaging feature that mimics vasculopathy, underscoring the importance of careful interpretation in such contexts.

Keywords: Beta Thalassemia major; Vertebral artery beading.

Publication types

Case Reports