-Case Reports-

Symptomatic Middle Cerebral Artery Dissection in a Young Tennis Player

Arata Abe^1,2, Yasuhiro Nishiyama², Hiroyasu Kamiyama³, Isao Kitahara¹, Ken-ichiro Katsura² and Yasuo Katayama²

¹Department of Neurology, Shioda Hospital, Chiba
²Department of Neurological, Nephrological and Rheumatological Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School
³Department of Neurosurgery, Asahikawa Red Cross Hospital, Hokkaido

No information has been available regarding middle cerebral artery (MCA) dissection occurring as a result of athletics. We describe a case of cerebral infarction in the right MCA region that occurred in young, right-handed tennis player while he was serving. Angiography with a contrast medium and a 3-dimensional rotational system revealed proximal M2 stenosis, and emergency superficial temporal artery-MCA anastomosis was performed. As a result, the patient showed a complete recovery and resumed all activities of daily life, including playing tennis. Because sports such as tennis, in which players vigorously swing their heads while serving, could lead to intracranial artery dissection, we advise that the possibility of MCA dissection should be considered in athletes with certain neurological symptoms, including headache.

J Nippon Med Sch 2009; 76: 209-211

Keywords
middle cerebral artery dissection, athletes, tennis player, anastomosis, intracranial artery dissection

Correspondence to
Arata Abe, MD, Department of Neurological, Nephrological and Rheumatological Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan
doc50723@hotmail.com

Received, January 8, 2009
Accepted, May 8, 2009