PICA
Pronunciation: PEE-kah
Also written as: PICA — Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery
Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery, a critical vessel in neurovascular imaging requiring careful assessment for stroke evaluation.
Full Definition
The Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery is a major branch of the vertebral artery that supplies the posterior inferior portion of the cerebellum and lateral medulla. In vascular imaging reports, PICA territory infarcts are commonly referenced, and editors must distinguish this from other cerebellar arteries (AICA, SCA). The vessel's characteristic loop formation and anatomical variants are frequently described in stroke imaging protocols. Proper capitalization and abbreviation usage is essential in radiology reports, as confusion with other cerebellar vessels can lead to misinterpretation of stroke location and severity.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize when abbreviated; lowercase when spelled out unless beginning a sentence.
In Context
- "CT angiography demonstrated acute occlusion of the left PICA with corresponding cerebellar infarct." — Stroke imaging report
- "The patient's PICA territory showed decreased perfusion on MR imaging." — Neurovascular assessment