title: Late spontaneous recanalization of a symptomatically occluded internal carotid artery two years after extra-intracranial bypass. Case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Spontaneous recanalization of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is rarely observed. Mainly case reports are published. Most often early recanalization occurs within days or weeks and only a few cases of late recanalization months or years after detected occlusion are reported. Symptomatic bilateral ICA occlusion is regarded as an acceptable indication for extra-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass. The authors report on a case with bilateral symptomatic ICA occlusion and EC-IC bypass >2 years prior to detected spontaneous leftsided recanalization. Spontaneous recanalization unmasking a high degree ICA stenosis at the carotid bifurcation allowed a successful subsequent surgical recanalization in this patients. Mechanisms of early and late recanalization as well as treatment options are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Vascular Surgery and Phlebology, Elisabeth-Hospital Essen, Germany. h.w.kniemeyer@contilia.de
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kniemeyer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voshege
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Abu Al Nasr
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beckmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edelmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D002548:Cerebral Revascularization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed