[Mega-dolicho carotid arteries. Role of non-invasive imaging. Apropos of 3 clinical cases]

Abstract

Three cases of aberrant (elongated and tortuous) carotid arteries of the neck are reported. In 2 patients the carotid artery abnormalities were discovered at diagnostic work-up for: 1) sudden deafness, 2) persistent pharyngeal discomfort. Both patients presented a pulsating bulge in a pharyngeal wall with no lesion of the mucosa. In the third patient, the arterial abnormality was a peroperative discovery. All patients presented factors of risk for vascular disease. In the 2 symptomatic patients, Doppler U.S. and magnetic resonance imaging made it possible to confirm the diagnosis and to eliminate other vascular or tumoral disorders. The indications and limitations of the various available diagnosis imaging procedures are assessed.