[Craniocervical artery dissection].
BACKGROUND
In recent years, new radiographic diagnostics have increased our knowledge about dissection of the carotid and vertebral arteries as a cause of stroke, probably an underdiagnosed condition. Carotid dissection is now considered one of the most frequent aetiologies of ischaemic stroke in patients less than 50 years of age and it accounts for 20% of all cases under the age of 30.


METHODS
In this paper we describe clinical course and investigations in four patients who had dissection of the precerebral arteries.


RESULTS
Three patients had carotid artery dissection, one vertebral artery dissection. Three patients had ischaemic symptoms. One patient had symptoms following physiotherapy to the neck.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with craniocervical arterial dissection should be investigated with ultrasound techniques and MRI or CT; antiplatelet agents or anticoagulation therapy should be considered.
Solbakken
Tore
T
Nevrologisk avdeling, Haukeland Sykehus 5021 Bergen. toso@sir.no
Moen
Gunnar
G
Tysnes
Ole-Bjørn
OB
D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D020217:Vertebral Artery Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy