Abstract
Two cases with vertebro-basilar infarcts associated with severe stenosis of the vertebral artery in its cervical part are reported. Complete thrombosis of the vertebral artery was observed after a short delay in both cases. As the carotid arteries were normal and the contralateral vertebral artery was dominant, an embolic mechanism was suspected. No new event occurred in the following 1 and 3 yr, respectively, after the stroke. These 2 cases demonstrate the possibility of embolism from severe stenosis of the cervical vertebral artery. This mechanism could explain some of the infarcts related to vertebral artery occlusion.