Common carotid artery aneurysm revealing Takayasu's arteritis

Abstract

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology affecting large vessels, most markedly the aorta and its branches. Stroke or transient ischemic attack may occur in TA due to either the occlusion or embolic material originating from the inflammatory region of the vessel. Extracranial carotid aneurysms caused by TA are extremely rare and usually appear at advanced stages of the disease. A 27-year-old woman presented with carotidynia and a left laterocervical mass. Ultrasonography of the bilateral carotid arteries revealed an aneurysm of the left common carotid artery. The patient fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for TA. Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm could be an initial manifestation of this disease. The diagnosis of TA was made on the basis of the presence of systemic inflammatory reaction and the anatomic locations of the affected arteries-the common carotid artery in a young woman. Surgery with stent placement can be a successful long-term treatment.