title: Common carotid artery stenosis and amaurosis fugax.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Fuji Brain Institute and Hospital, Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan. khoya@dokkyomed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kastumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoya
authors.forename: Eiharu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morikawa
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: 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