Thursday, April 10, 2008

Carotid Dissection


Carotid dissection forms from tears in the arterial walls. Narrowing or complete occlusion may occur from the blood flowing between the inner and outer layers of the artery. Blood clots can form from the dissection and can lead to a stroke or traveling emboli. Carotid dissection is a significant cause for ischemic strokes in people of all ages and favors neither sex more than the other. These dissections can be classified as traumatic or spontaneous. The spontaneous are known for causing strokes in middle-aged people. The traumatic are most commonly from trauma to the head or neck.


Some common symptoms include headache, neck pain, neck swelling, focal weakness, decreased taste sensory, and many others. There are numerous causes for this dissection. Oral contraceptives, hypertension, trauma, and many others. Some studies that can be done to diagnose dissection include angiography, MRA, CTA, Doppler or Duplex. Treatment includes observation, stenting, and rehabilitation depending on the situation.


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