Possibility of delayed cerebral infarction after pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Background: A pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage has been accepted as a "benign" entity. Here we present two patients with delayed cerebral infarction following pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Methods: Case report. Results: Two patients with possible delayed cerebral infarction after pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage were identified. Both patients developed basilar artery vasospasm within 2 weeks of their bleeding events. Although they remained clinically asymptomatic, the location and the timing of infarction implicated the observed focal arterial vasospasm. Conclusions: Clinicians should bear in mind the possibility of arterial vasospasm and ensuing cerebral infarction in patients with pretruncal subarachnoid hemorrhage.