Concurrence of bilateral kinking of the extracranial part of the internal carotid artery with coiling and tortuosity of the external carotid artery--a case report

Abstract

Anatomical variations of the carotid arterial system have a great impact on surgical approaches to the neck and radiological imaging interpretation. Although reports on internal carotid artery dolichoarteriopathy (kinking, tortuosity, coiling) have been reported, no report on dolichoarteriopathy of the external carotid artery has been described. Herein, we report a case with concurrent bilateral kinking of the extracranial part of the internal carotid artery associated with extensive calcifications in the relatively high-located carotid bifurcation and coiling with tortuosity of the external carotid artery in a male cadaver - an entity that has not yet been reported. The variation presented should be kept in mind during various surgical procedures in order to decrease possible iatrogenic or surgical complications.