Canadian Medical Guide > Diseases > Nervous System Diseases > Central Nervous System Diseases > Brain Diseases > Cerebrovascular Disorders Terms and Definitions

Cerebrovascular Disorders

Medical Definition:	A broad category of disorders characterized by impairment of blood flow in the arteries and veins which supply the brain. These include CEREBRAL INFARCTION; BRAIN ISCHEMIA; HYPOXIA, BRAIN; INTRACRANIAL EMBOLISM AND THROMBOSIS; INTRACRANIAL ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATIONS; and VASCULITIS, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. In common usage, the term cerebrovascular disorders is not limited to conditions that affect the cerebrum, but refers to vascular disorders of the entire brain including the DIENCEPHALON; BRAIN STEM; and CEREBELLUM.
Guide Notes:	GEN
Also Called:	Cerebrovascular Insufficiency,Cerebrovascular Occlusion

Cerebrovascular Disorders Categories.

	Brain Ischemia - Localized reduction of blood flow to brain tissue due to arterial obtruction or systemic hypoperfusion. This frequently occurs in conjuction with brain hypoxia (HYPOXIA, BRAIN). Prolonged ischemia is associated with BRAIN INFARCTION.
	Carotid Artery Diseases - Diseases of the common, internal, and external carotid arteries. ATHEROSCLEROSIS and trauma are relatively frequent causes of carotid artery pathology.
	Cerebrovascular Accident - A sudden, nonconvulsive loss of neurologic function due to an ischemic or hemorrhagic intracranial vascular event. In general, cerebrovascular accidents are classified by anatomic location in the brain, vascular distribution, etiology, age of the affected individual, and hemorrhagic vs. nonhemorrhagic nature. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp777-810)
	Cerebrovascular Trauma - Penetrating and nonpenetrating traumatic injuries to an extracranial or intracranial blood vessel that supplies the brain. This includes the CAROTID ARTERIES, vertebral arteries (VERTEBRAL ARTERY), and intracranial arteries, veins, and venous sinuses.
	Dementia, Vascular - An imprecise term refering to dementia associated with CEREBROVASCULAR DISORDERS, including CEREBRAL INFARCTION (single or multiple), and conditions associated with chronic BRAIN ISCHEMIA. Diffuse, cortical, and subcortical subtypes have been described. (From Gerontol Geriatr 1998 Feb;31(1):36-44)
	Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain - A disorder characterized by a reduction in oxygen supply (HYPOXIA) combined with reduced blood flow (ISCHEMIA) to the brain. This condition may result from a localized obstruction of a cerebral artery or from systemic hypoperfusion. Prolonged hypoxia-ischemia is associated with ISCHEMIC ATTACK, TRANSIENT; BRAIN INFARCTION; BRAIN EDEMA; COMA; and other conditions.
	Intracranial Arterial Diseases - Conditions which affect the arteries of the brain, meninges, and intracranial portions of the cranial nerves. Relatively common disease processes in this category include: ATHEROSCLEROSIS; emboli; thrombosis (INTRACRANIAL EMBOLISM AND THROMBOSIS); VASCULITIS, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM; CEREBROVASCULAR TRAUMA; vasospasm (VASOSPASM, INTRACRANIAL); INTRACRANIAL ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATIONS; and infections.
	Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis - Embolism or thrombosis involving blood vessels which supply intracranial structures. Emboli may originate from extracranial or intracranial sources. Thrombosis may occur in arterial or venous structures.
	Intracranial Hemorrhages - Bleeding within the intracranial cavity, including hemorrhages in the brain and within the cranial epidural, subdural, and subarachnoid spaces.
	Leukomalacia, Periventricular - Degeneration of white matter adjacent to the CEREBRAL VENTRICLES following cerebral hypoxia or BRAIN ISCHEMIA in neonates. The condition primarily affects white matter in the perfusion zone between superficial and deep branches of the MIDDLE CEREBRAL ARTERY. Clinical manifestations include VISION DISORDERS; CEREBRAL PALSY; PARAPLEGIA; SEIZURES; and COGNITIVE DISORDERS. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1021; Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1997, Ch4, pp30-1)
	Sneddon Syndrome - A systemic non-inflammatory arteriopathy primarily of middle-aged females characterized by the association of livedo reticularis, multiple thrombotic CEREBRAL INFARCTION; CORONARY DISEASE, and HYPERTENSION. Elevation of antiphospholipid antibody titers (see also ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID SYNDROME), cardiac valvulopathy, ISCHEMIC ATTACK, TRANSIENT; SEIZURES; DEMENTIA; and chronic ischemia of the extremities may also occur. Pathologic examination of affected arteries reveals non-inflammatory adventitial fibrosis, thrombosis, and changes in the media. (From Jablonski, Dictionary of Syndromes & Eponymic Diseases, 2d ed; Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p861; Arch Neurol 1997 Jan;54(1):53-60)
	Vascular Headaches - A group of disorders characterized by recurrent headaches associated with abnormal dilation and constriction of cerebral blood vessels. Representative disorders from this category include MIGRAINE; CLUSTER HEADACHE; and paroxysmal hemicrania.
	Vasospasm, Intracranial - Narrowing of the lumen of one or more intracranial arteries due to contraction of arterial smooth muscle or to morphologic changes of the blood vessel wall. Large blood vessels near the base of the brain are primarily affected and reduced blood flow may result in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HYPOXIA-ISCHEMIA, BRAIN). Vasospasm may be associated with SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE; CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA; and other disorders. (From Neurosurg Clin N Am, 1998 Jul;9(3):615-27)

Cerebrovascular Disorders Medical Definitions and Terms

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