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Case Reports
. 2017 Jul 6;1(3):225-228.
doi: 10.5811/cpcem.2017.3.33296. eCollection 2017 Aug.

Cervical Artery Dissection and Choosing Appropriate Therapy

Jonathan T Lau  1 , John S Hunt Jr  1 , David I Bruner  2 , Andrea L Austin  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cervical Artery Dissection and Choosing Appropriate Therapy

Jonathan T Lau et al. Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. .

Abstract

Cervical artery dissection is a common cause of stroke in young adults. This may result from head and neck trauma; it can also occur spontaneously or secondary to genetic connective tissue or vascular disorders. Neurologic symptoms arise as a result of thromboembolism and hypoperfusion causing cerebral ischemia. We present a case of a previously healthy male who was found to have a cervical internal carotid artery dissection and the decision to use antiplatelet therapy instead of anticoagulation to prevent stroke. Data is lacking regarding the efficacy of one therapy over the other.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: By the CPC-EM article submission agreement, all authors are required to disclose all affiliations, funding sources and financial or management relationships that could be perceived as potential sources of bias. John S. Hunt, MD, discloses the following: “I retain no rights to the article. I have no financial interest in the drugs, devises or procedures described in the forgoing article.”

Figures

Image 1
Image 1
Computerized tomography angiography (CTA) coronal view demonstrating the dissection with the pseudoaneurysm (yellow arrow).
Image 2
Image 2
CTA sagittal view showing “carotid string sign” (yellow arrow) referring to the thin string of intravenous contrast material distal to the stenotic focus in the internal carotid artery.
Image 3
Image 3
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) angiography T1 fat-saturated transverse view showing left internal carotid artery with significantly diminished lumen size and showing enhancement of thrombus (yellow arrow).
Image 4
Image 4
MRI transverse view showing areas with small ischemic lesions (yellow arrows).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Publication types