Carotid artery dissection

Short description: Human disease

Carotid artery dissection

Dissection in the carotid artery
Specialty| Vascular surgery, Neurology
Symptoms| Sudden, severe headache, neck or facial pain, vision changes, Horner's syndrome, stroke-like symptoms
Complications| Stroke
Causes| Spontaneous or traumatic (e.g., minor injuries, neck movement)
Diagnostic method| Ultrasound, MRI, MRA, CTA
Treatment| Anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, Stenting, Angioplasty
Frequency| Common cause of stroke in younger adults

Carotid artery dissection is a serious condition in which a tear forms in one of the two main carotid arteries in the neck, allowing blood to enter the artery wall and separate its layers (dissection). This separation can lead to the formation of a blood clot, narrowing of the artery, and restricted blood flow to the brain, potentially resulting in stroke. Symptoms vary depending on the extent and location of the dissection and may include a sudden, severe headache, neck or facial pain, vision changes, a drooping eyelid (Horner's syndrome), and stroke-like symptoms such as weakness or numbness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, or loss of coordination.

Carotid artery dissection can occur spontaneously or be triggered by trauma, including minor injuries, certain medical conditions, or activities that involve neck movement. It is a leading cause of stroke in young and middle-aged adults. The condition is typically diagnosed through imaging studies, such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), or computed tomography angiography (CTA), which help visualize the blood vessels and detect abnormalities.

Management of carotid artery dissection depends on the severity and symptoms. Treatment options often include medications like anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents to prevent blood clot formation and reduce the risk of stroke. In more severe cases, surgical or endovascular interventions, such as stenting or angioplasty, may be required to restore proper blood flow. Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes, though the prognosis can vary based on the extent of the dissection and the presence of complications.

## Contents

* 1 Description
* 2 Signs and symptoms
* 3 Causes
* 3.1 Spontaneous
* 3.2 Traumatic
* 4 Pathophysiology
* 5 Treatment
* 6 Epidemiology
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## Description

Carotid artery dissection (or cervical artery dissection) is the separation of the layers within the wall of the carotid arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain.[1] It is a significant cause of stroke in younger adults.[2]

The carotid arteries are major blood vessels in the neck that branch into smaller vessels called the external and internal carotid arteries.[3] In carotid artery dissection, a tear in the arterial wall allows blood to flow between the layers of the artery, leading to potential narrowing, reduced blood flow, or clot formation, which may cause a stroke.[4]

## Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of carotid artery dissection may be divided into ischemic and non-ischemic categories:[5][6]

Non-ischemic signs and symptoms:

* Neck pain and headache, sometimes escalating in intensity[7]
* Decreased pupil size with drooping of the upper eyelid (Horner syndrome)
* Pulsatile tinnitus

Ischemic signs and symptoms:

* Temporary vision loss
* Ischemic stroke

## Causes

Dissection in ultrasound

The causes of carotid artery dissection can be broadly categorized into two classes: spontaneous or traumatic.[8]

Dissection may occur after direct physical trauma, traffic collision, strangulation, or any phenomenon that causes hyperextension of the neck. They can also happen spontaneously.[9][10]

### Spontaneous

Once considered uncommon, spontaneous carotid artery dissection is an increasingly recognized cause of stroke that preferentially affects the middle-aged.[11][12]

The incidence of spontaneous carotid artery dissection is low, and incidence rates for internal carotid artery dissection have been reported to be around 2.6 to 2.9 incidents per 100,000.[13] Though the incidence is low, it is the cause of the vast majority of strokes in young people.[14]

Observational studies and case reports published since the early 1980s show that patients with spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection may also have a history of stroke in their family and/or hereditary connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, fibromuscular dysplasia, and osteogenesis imperfecta type I.[15] IgG4-related disease involving the carotid artery has also been observed as a cause.[16]

However, although an association with connective tissue disorders does exist, most people with spontaneous arterial dissections do not have associated connective tissue disorders. Also, the reports on the prevalence of hereditary connective tissue diseases in people with spontaneous dissections are highly variable, ranging from 0% to 0.6% in one study to 5% to 18% in another study.[15]

There is increasing evidence that internal carotid artery dissection can also be associated with the styloid process (known as Eagle syndrome when the elongated styloid process causes symptoms).[17]

### Traumatic

Carotid artery dissection is thought to be more commonly caused by severe violent trauma to the head and/or neck. An estimated 0.67% of patients admitted to the hospital after major motor vehicle accidents were found to have blunt carotid injury, including intimal dissections, pseudoaneurysms, thromboses, or fistulas.[18] Of these, 76% had intimal dissections, pseudoaneurysms, or a combination of the two. Sports-related activities such as surfing[19] and Jiu-Jitsu[20] have been reported as causes of carotid artery dissection.

The probable mechanism of injury for most internal carotid injuries is rapid deceleration, with resultant hyperextension and rotation of the neck, which stretches the internal carotid artery over the upper cervical vertebrae, producing an intimal tear.[18] After such an injury, the patient may remain asymptomatic, have a hemispheric transient ischemic event, or have a stroke.[21]

Artery dissection has also been reported in association with some forms of neck manipulation.[9] There is significant controversy about the level of risk of stroke from neck manipulation. It may be that manipulation can cause dissection,[22] or it may be that the dissection is already present in some people who seek manipulative treatment.[23]

## Pathophysiology

Arterial dissection of the carotid arteries is a condition that arises when a small tear forms in the innermost lining of the arterial wall, known as the tunica intima. This tear allows blood to enter the space between the inner and outer layers of the vessel, leading to either narrowing (stenosis) or complete occlusion. Notably, the stenosis in the early stages of arterial dissection is a dynamic process, and some occlusions can quickly transition back to stenosis. When complete occlusion occurs, it can result in ischemia, a condition characterized by insufficient blood supply to a particular area.[24]

In cases of complete occlusion, symptoms may not always be evident due to the presence of collateral circulation, which helps to adequately perfuse the brain. However, complications can arise when blood clots develop at the site of the tear and subsequently break off, forming emboli. These emboli can then travel through the arteries and reach the brain, where they may block the blood supply. This blockage leads to an ischemic stroke, also known as a cerebral infarction.[25] It is believed that blood clots or emboli originating from the dissection are responsible for causing infarctions in the majority of cases involving strokes in the presence of carotid artery dissection.[26][27]

Cerebral infarction, as a result of carotid artery dissection, can cause irreversible damage to the brain. Studies have demonstrated a significant number of patients with dissections go on to experience full blown strokes, often some time after the original dissection event.[28][29] This emphasizes the serious and potentially life-altering consequences associated with this condition.

## Treatment

The goal of treatment is to prevent the development of an actual stroke or limit the continuation of neurologic deficits should a stroke occur after dissection. Treatments include observation, anti-platelet agents, anticoagulation, stent implantation, carotid endarterectomy, and carotid artery ligation.[8][30]

## Epidemiology

Carotid dissections events can occur at any age. They tend to occur more often in younger individuals under 50. Such events are slightly more common in men than in women.[31] Spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection is a rare event with an incidence rate of approximately 2.6 to 2.9 per 100,000 individuals. However, such events account for ~5% to ~22% of strokes in patients under the age of 45 years.[32]

## See also

* Aortic dissection
* Vertebral artery dissection

## References

1. ↑ "Cervical Artery Dissection: Causes and Symptoms". Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22217-carotid-artery-dissection. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
2. ↑ Mattu, Amal (2007). Emergency Medicine: Avoiding the Pitfalls and Improving the Outcomes. Blackwell / BMJ Books. ISBN 978-1-4051-4166-6.
3. ↑ "Carotid artery: Anatomy, function, disease, and more". 2020-03-10. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/carotid-artery. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
4. ↑ "Carotid Artery Dissection: Symptoms and Treatment". Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22217-carotid-artery-dissection. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
5. ↑ Kerry, Roger; Taylor, Alan J. (November 2006). "Cervical arterial dysfunction assessment and manual therapy". Manual Therapy 11 (4): 243–253. doi:10.1016/j.math.2006.09.006. PMID 17074613.
6. ↑ "Cervical Artery Dissection (CeAD) | Treatment & Diagnosis" (in en). https://www.uhhospitals.org/services/heart-and-vascular-services/conditions-and-treatments/vascular-disease/cervical-artery-dissection.
7. ↑ "Cervical artery dissection" (in en-GB). https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/heart-blood-circulation/cervical-artery-dissection.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Goodfriend, Steven D.; Tadi, Prasanna; Koury, Ron (2024). "Carotid Artery Dissection". StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430835/.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Assessing the risk of stroke from neck manipulation: a systematic review". International Journal of Clinical Practice 66 (10): 940–947. 2012. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2012.03004.x. PMID 22994328.
10. ↑ Weintraub, Michael I. (28 April 1993). "Beauty Parlor Stroke Syndrome: Report of Five Cases". JAMA 269 (16): 2085–2086. doi:10.1001/jama.1993.03500160051022. PMID 8468755.
11. ↑ Mokri, Bahram (March 1997). "Spontaneous dissections of internal carotid arteries". The Neurologist 3 (2): 104–119. doi:10.1097/00127893-199703000-00005.
12. ↑ "Carotid Dissection | Mount Sinai − New York" (in en-US). https://www.mountsinai.org/care/surgery/services/vascular-surgery/conditions/arterial-conditions/carotid-dissection.
13. ↑ Lee, Vivien H.; Brown, Robert D.; Mandrekar, Jayawant N.; Mokri, Bahram (28 November 2006). "Incidence and outcome of cervical artery dissection: A population-based study". Neurology 67 (10): 1809–1812. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000244486.30455.71. PMID 17130413.
14. ↑ "Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) − Symptoms and causes" (in en). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spontaneous-coronary-artery-dissection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353711.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 de Bray, Jean-Michel; Baumgartner, Ralf W. (July 2005). "History of Spontaneous Dissection of the Cervical Carotid Artery". Archives of Neurology 62 (7): 1168–1170. doi:10.1001/archneur.62.7.1168. PMID 16009782.
16. ↑ Barp, Andrea; Fedrigo, Marny; Farina, Filippo Maria; Lepidi, Sandro; Causin, Francesco; Castellani, Chiara; Cester, Giacomo; Thiene, Gaetano et al. (January 2016). "Carotid aneurism with acute dissection: an unusual case of IgG4-related diseases". Cardiovascular Pathology 25 (1): 59–62. doi:10.1016/j.carpath.2015.08.006. PMID 26453089.
17. ↑ Klail, Tomas; Sachs, Ludwig; Panos, Leonidas D.; Urban, Oliver Y.; Siller, Teresa; Pilgram-Pastor, Sara; Giger, Roland; Müller, Martin et al. (26 April 2025). "Styloid process-related internal carotid artery dissection: extensive literature review of diagnosis, treatment and outcomes (exemplified with a single-center case series)". Neuroradiology 2025 (6): 1355–1364. doi:10.1007/s00234-025-03616-y. PMID 40285871.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Fabian, T. C.; Patton, Joe; Croce, Martin; Minard, Gayle; Kudsk, Kenneth; Pritchard, F. (1996). "Blunt Carotid Injury". Annals of Surgery 223 (5): 513–552. doi:10.1097/00000658-199605000-00007. PMID 8651742.
19. ↑ Pego-Reigosa, R.; López-López, S.; Vázquez-López, M. E.; Armesto-Pérez, V.; Brañas-Fernández, F.; Martínez-Vázquez, F.; Piñeiro-Bolaño, R.; Cortés-Laiño, J. A. (14 June 2005). "Sea wave–induced internal carotid artery dissection". Neurology 64 (11): 1980. doi:10.1212/01.WNL.0000163855.78628.42. PMID 15955962.
20. ↑ Demartini, Zeferino; Rodrigues Freire, Maxweyd; Lages, Roberto Oliver; Francisco, Alexandre Novicki; Nanni, Felipe; Maranha Gatto, Luana A.; Koppe, Gelson Luis (2017). "Internal Carotid Artery Dissection in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu". Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery 19 (2): 111–116. doi:10.7461/jcen.2017.19.2.111. PMID 29152471.
21. ↑ Matsuura, John H.; Rosenthal, David; Jerius, Hilde; Clark, Michael D.; Owens, David S. (November 1997). "Traumatic Carotid Artery Dissection and Pseudoaneurysm Treated with Endovascular Coils and Stent". Journal of Endovascular Therapy 4 (4): 339–343. doi:10.1177/152660289700400403. PMID 9418195.
22. ↑ Ernst, E. (2010). "Vascular accidents after neck manipulation: cause or coincidence?". International Journal of Clinical Practice 64 (6): 673–7. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02237.x. PMID 20518945.
23. ↑ "Clinical practice implications of the bone and joint decade 2000–2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders: from concepts and findings to recommendations". Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 32 (2 Suppl): S227–243. February 2009. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.11.023. PMID 19251069. "In persons younger than 45 years, there is an association between chiropractic care and vertebro-basilar artery (VBA) stroke; there is a similar association between family physician care and VBA stroke. This suggests that there is no increased risk of VBA stroke after chiropractic care, and that these associations are likely due to patients with headache and neck pain from vertebral artery dissection seeking care while in the prodromal stage of a VBA stroke. Unfortunately, there is no practical or proven method to screen patients with neck pain and headache for vertebral artery dissection. However, VBA strokes are extremely rare, especially in younger persons.".
24. ↑ Bax, Monique; Romanov, Valentin; Junday, Keerat; Giannoulatou, Eleni; Martinac, Boris; Kovacic, Jason C.; Liu, Renjing; Iismaa, Siiri E. et al. (6 December 2022). "Arterial dissections: Common features and new perspectives". Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 9. doi:10.3389/fcvm.2022.1055862. PMID 36561772.
25. ↑ Keser, Zafer; Chiang, Chia-Chun; Benson, John C; Pezzini, Alessandro; Lanzino, Giuseppe (September 2022). "Cervical Artery Dissections: Etiopathogenesis and Management". Vascular Health and Risk Management 18: 685–700. doi:10.2147/VHRM.S362844. PMID 36082197.
26. ↑ Redekop, Gary John (May 2008). "Extracranial Carotid and Vertebral Artery Dissection: A Review". Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques 35 (2): 146–152. doi:10.1017/s0317167100008556. PMID 18574926.
27. ↑ Jung, Simon; Wiest, Roland; Gralla, Jan; McKinley, Richard; Mattle, Heinrich; Liebeskind, David (11 December 2017). "Relevance of the cerebral collateral circulation in ischaemic stroke: time is brain, but collaterals set the pace". Swiss Medical Weekly 147 (4950): w14538. doi:10.4414/smw.2017.14538. PMID 29231236.
28. ↑ Martin, P J; Humphrey, P R D (July 1998). "Disabling stroke arising five months after internal carotid artery dissection". Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry 65 (1): 136–137. doi:10.1136/jnnp.65.1.136. PMID 9667581.
29. ↑ "Articles" (in en-US). https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/articles.html.
30. ↑ Torborg, Liza (2019-07-02). "Mayo Clinic Q and A: Treating a carotid artery tear" (in en-US). https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-treating-a-carotid-artery-tear/.
31. ↑ "Carotid Dissection" (in en). 2022-12-28. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/carotid-dissection.
32. ↑ Zheng, Chong; Zhou, Hongwei; Zhao, Kexin; Kong, Derui; Ji, Tiefeng (February 2023). "Internal carotid artery dissection with different interventions and outcomes: two case reports". Journal of International Medical Research 51 (2). doi:10.1177/03000605231154379. PMID 36772988.

## External links

Classification|

* ICD-10: I72.0
* ICD-9-CM: 443.21
* DiseasesDB: 2145

|

External resources|

* eMedicine: emerg/82

* v
* t
* e

Cardiovascular disease (vessels) (I70–I99, 440–456)

Arteries, arterioles
and capillaries|

| Inflammation|

* Arteritis
* Aortitis
* Buerger's disease

|

Peripheral artery disease|

| Arteriosclerosis|

* Atherosclerosis
* Foam cell
* Fatty streak
* Atheroma
* Intermittent claudication
* Critical limb ischemia

* Monckeberg's arteriosclerosis
* Arteriolosclerosis
* Hyaline
* Hyperplastic
* Cholesterol
* LDL
* Oxycholesterol
* Trans fat

|

Stenosis|

* Carotid artery stenosis
* Renal artery stenosis

Other|

* Aortoiliac occlusive disease
* Degos disease
* Erythromelalgia
* Fibromuscular dysplasia
* Raynaud's phenomenon

Aneurysm / dissection /
pseudoaneurysm|

* torso: Aortic aneurysm
* Abdominal aortic aneurysm
* Thoracic aortic aneurysm
* Aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva
* Aortic dissection
* Aortic rupture
* Coronary artery aneurysm
* head / neck
* Intracranial aneurysm
* Intracranial berry aneurysm
* Carotid artery dissection
* Vertebral artery dissection
* Familial aortic dissection

Vascular malformation|

* Arteriovenous fistula
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Vascular nevus|

* Cherry hemangioma
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Veins|

| Inflammation|

* Phlebitis

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Venous thrombosis /
Thrombophlebitis|

* primarily lower limb
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* Portal vein thrombosis
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* upper limb / torso
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* head
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Varicose veins|

* Gastric varices
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Other|

* Chronic venous insufficiency
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Arteries or veins|

* Angiopathy
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Blood pressure|

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Hypotension|

* Orthostatic hypotension

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