Common carotid artery stenosis and amaurosis fugax.
BACKGROUND
Clinical characteristics of common carotid artery (CCA) stenosis have been reported relatively rarely, compared with those of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. The current retrospective study aimed to clarify the symptomatology of CCA stenosis.


METHODS
Summarized records of patients admitted were reviewed to identify patients with CCA stenosis or extracranial ICA stenosis. Clinical histories and neurologic symptoms were identified and analyzed.


RESULTS
CCA stenosis was present in 12 patients (symptomatic, n = 8; asymptomatic, n = 4). Among symptomatic patients, 4 (50%) had amaurosis fugax. Among 137 patients with symptomatic extracranial ICA stenosis, amaurosis fugax occurred in 9 patients (6.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Frequency of amaurosis fugax was significantly higher in CCA stenosis than in ICA stenosis. Patients with CCA stenosis may be susceptible to transient hemodynamic insufficiency of the retina as a result of simultaneous reductions in blood supplies from both the external carotid artery and the ICA.
Hoya
Kastumi
K
Department of Neurosurgery, Fuji Brain Institute and Hospital, Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan. khoya@dokkyomed.ac.jp
Morikawa
Eiharu
E
Tamura
Akira
A
Saito
Isamu
I
D020757:Amaurosis Fugax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies