Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Carotidynia

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to draw attention to the characteristic sonographic features of carotidynia, which, in the context of a typical clinical picture support its diagnosis. Six patients presented with primary symptoms of neck pain and focal tenderness. In all patients, focal wall thickening of the distal end of the common carotid artery was found exactly in the region of tenderness, leading to mild lumen narrowing. Treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or glucocorticoids led to full symptom resolution. Carotidynia will often be encountered first on sonography performed for evaluation of neck pain and has a characteristic sonographic appearance.

Keywords: carotids/extracranial; carotidynia; head and neck; imaging methods; neck pain; point-of-care ultrasound; sonography.