A 70-year-old right-handed woman arrives at the ER with left-sided sight loss that she noticed when she awoke in the morning. She has no headaches, impaired speech, swallowing difficulties, weakness, or trouble walking. Her additional medical issues include high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and hyperlipidemia. The blood pressure is 170/102 mm Hg, and the pulse rate is 90 beats per minute and irregular. She is aware and oriented to person, location, and time during a neurologic assessment. Her voice is clear, and she understands and executes complex orders. Her visual fields reveal left homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing. Her feeling on the left side of her body is diminished. The rest of the neurologic evaluation is within normal norms. As depicted in the picture, a non-contrast head CT shows an area of focal parenchymal hypoattenuation. Which of the following cerebral arteries is most likely to be compromised in this patient?

Question

A 70-year-old right-handed woman arrives at the ER with left-sided sight loss that she noticed when she awoke in the morning. She has no headaches, impaired speech, swallowing difficulties, weakness, or trouble walking. Her additional medical issues include high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and hyperlipidemia. The blood pressure is 170/102 mm Hg, and the pulse rate is 90 beats per minute and irregular. She is aware and oriented to person, location, and time during a neurologic assessment. Her voice is clear, and she understands and executes complex orders. Her visual fields reveal left homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing. Her feeling on the left side of her body is diminished. The rest of the neurologic evaluation is within normal norms. As depicted in the picture, a non-contrast head CT shows an area of focal parenchymal hypoattenuation.  Which of the following cerebral arteries is most likely to be compromised in this patient?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: The posterior cerebral artery arises from the basilar artery and serves cranial nerves III and IV as well as other midbrain regions. It also serves the thalamus, medial temporal lobe, corpus callosum splenium, and occipital lobe. Contralateral homonymous hemianopia, sometimes with macular sparing, is the most prevalent finding in posterior cerebral artery stroke.

A 70-Year-Old Right-Handed Woman Arrives at the ER with Left-Sided