[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][SIZE="2"]vertebral artery, or I guess dilated vertebral artery. I have facial spasms and vision problems along with headache (which I think are migraine). I just wonder if anyone else has been diagnosed with an ectatic vertebral artery and what exactly does this mean? I have had years of neuro problems and I am going to another neurologist next week. Thank you for this site.

I have never heard ofthis, but was curisous. Here's a discrption that I found that was in plain lang.:

An ectatic vertebral artery is one that has become so long and tortuous that it compresses the brainstem and therefore effects the root entry and/or exit zones of cranial nerves. This compression then can cause all sorts of problems: gait disturbances, voice disorders, swallowing difficulties, facial spasms, facial pain, hypertension, obstructive hydrocephalus.

Surgery is the answer: microvascular decompression.

Cut a hole behind the ear, go into the brainstem, gently move the offending artery away from the brain