What is cerebral thrombosis?

Question

On my grandfather's death certificate, it says he died from cerebral thrombosis and in parenthesis next to it it says vertebral artery. Does this mean he had a stroke?

Answer 1

I am so sorry for your loss.

Cerebral thrombosis is when a blood clot forms in an artery that supplies the brain. When the artery is major and the blood clot is large enough to block the blood flow, tissue death results. This is called a stroke. In layman's terms, your grandfather died of a massive stroke.

The vertebral artery supplies the brainstem and the back of the brain. Your grandfather's blood clot was found in the vertebral artery. Any problem with the brainstem is life threatening.