Thalamic infarction in childhood due to extracranial vertebral artery abnormalities.

We report two children who developed thalamic infarctions which were demonstrated by CT. Both children had apparently normal angiograms although the extra cranial portions of the vertebral arteries were not demonstrated on the initial examination. Subsequent angiograms demonstrated abnormalities of the cervical portion of the vertebral arteries, dissection and pseudoaneurysm in one case and a large fusiform aneurysm in the other. Both children made full neurological recoveries. The thalamus is supplied by branches from the vertebro-basilar circulation and it is important to study the entire length of the extra cranial vertebral arteries as well as the intracranial vasculature.