Asymptomatic looping of the internal carotid artery: a case report.
Variations and anomalies of the internal carotid artery in the neck are not rare. Although the possibility of these variations is well known, it may mislead the surgeon in certain circumstances as in the present case. A 68-year-old female patient had an asymptomatic looping of the internal carotid artery, which was recognized during neck dissection. This small, nonpulsatile, and sigmoid looping resembled a lymph node rather than the carotid artery itself. The purpose of this report is to alert the surgeons to the potential risk of hazardous complications. The knowledge of such unexpected conditions and application of proper surgical techniques will prevent these complications.
Oğretmenoğlu
Oğuz
O
Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. oguz@tr.net
D000368:Aged; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans