title: Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome with involvement of external carotid artery branches.
abstract: A 44-year-old woman presented with recurrent episodes of thunderclap headache. Neurological examination and computed tomography brain imaging were unremarkable. Cerebrospinal fluid findings were consistent with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Computed tomography angiography of the circle of Willis showed multiple areas of segmental vasoconstriction. This finding was confirmed on cerebral catheter angiography, with segmental vasoconstriction involving bilateral internal carotid, posterior cerebral, and external carotid branches. No aneurysm or other vascular abnormality was identified. She received treatment with nimodipine. A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, started 4 weeks earlier, was discontinued. Follow-up angiography after 3 months demonstrated complete resolution of the segmental vasoconstriction, confirming the diagnosis of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). She remained headache free at follow-up. To our knowledge, external carotid artery branch involvement in RCVS has been described only in one previous occasion.
authors: Department of Neurology, Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, United Kingdom.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Shaik
authors: Department of Neurology, Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, United Kingdom ; The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, UK.
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Chhetri
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, United Kingdom.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Roberts
authors: Department of Radiology, Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, UK.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Wuppalapati
authors: Department of Neurology, Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, United Kingdom ; School of Medicine, University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
authors: H C A
authors: HC
authors: Emsley
keywords: clinical specialty; disorders; headache; headache disorders; imaging; secondary; stroke and cerebrovascular disease; techniques