Severe subclavian artery stenosis presenting with subclavian steal syndrome by head rotation: a case report

A 79-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with vertigo. Vertigo was exacerbated by head rotation. Head magnetic resonance imaging revealed no acute cerebral infarction. The bilateral posterior communicating artery was not seen on magnetic resonance angiography. Three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography revealed severe stenosis in the left subclavian artery. Carotid Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) revealed a change in the vertebral artery (VA) blood flow with the head rotated. These findings were also confirmed using dynamic digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Stenting in the left subclavian artery was performed, and the vertigo disappeared. This is the first report of subclavian steal syndrome that appeared with head rotation. These findings suggest that evaluation of VA and subclavian artery using dynamic CDUS and DSA is required for patients presenting with vertebrobasilar insufficiency even if VA blood flow is antegrade in the neutral position.