The aim of this study was to analyze the spectrum of clinical presentations
of internal carotid artery dissection. Twenty-two patients with internal
carotid artery dissection, mean age 39.02, were evaluated over the past ten
years. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography were
used to establish the diagnosis. Facial and neck pain and Horner?s syndrome
were the only presenting symptoms in 4 patients (without brain infarction);
facial pain, Horner?s syndrome and contralateral sensorimotor deficit in 6;
headache and contralateral sensorimotor deficit in 2; contralateral
sensorimotor deficit with or without speech impairment in 10. Internal
carotid artery dissection was triggered by a trauma in 7, whereas it was
spontaneous in 15. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed infarction in 18
patients. A good outcome (modified Rankin score 0-2) was seen in 20 patients.
The spectrum of clinical presentations of internal carotid artery dissection
is variable. Internal carotid artery dissection is not necessarily
accompanied by infarction on magnetic resonance imaging.
Signal characteristic alterations of carotid artery dissection on high resolution magnetic resonance imaging: a follow-up study
