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Dejakum B, Kiechl S, Knoflach M, Mayer-Suess L. A narrative review on cervical artery dissection-related cranial nerve palsies. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1364218. [PMID: 38699055 PMCID: PMC11063253 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1364218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study aimed to emphasize the importance of cranial nerve (CN) palsies in spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCeAD). Methods A search term-based literature review was conducted on "cervical artery dissection" and "cranial nerve palsy." English and German articles published until October 2023 were considered. Results Cranial nerve (CN) palsy in sCeAD is evident in approximately 10% of cases. In the literature, isolated palsies of CN II, III, VII, IX, X, and XII have been reported, while CN XI palsy only occurs in combination with other lower cranial nerve palsies. Dissection type and mural hematoma localization are specific to affected CN as CN palsies of II or III are solely evident in those with steno-occlusive vessel pathologies located at more proximal segments of ICA, while those with CN palsies of IX, X, XI, and XII occur in expansive sCeAD at more distal segments. This dichotomization emphasizes the hypothesis of a different pathomechanism in CN palsy associated with sCeAD, one being hypoperfusion or microembolism (CN II, III, and VII) and the other being a local mass effect on surrounding tissue (CN IX, X, XI, and XII). Clinically, the distinction between peripheral palsies and those caused by brainstem infarction is difficult. This differentiation is key, as, according to the reviewed cases, peripheral cranial nerve palsies in sCeAD patients mostly resolve completely over time, while those due to brainstem stroke do not, making cerebrovascular imaging appraisal essential. Discussion It is important to consider dissections as a potential cause of peripheral CN palsies and to be aware of the appropriate diagnostic pathways. This awareness can help clinicians make an early diagnosis, offering the opportunity for primary stroke prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Dejakum
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stefan Kiechl
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- VASCage – Research Centre on Clinical Stroke Research, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael Knoflach
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- VASCage – Research Centre on Clinical Stroke Research, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lukas Mayer-Suess
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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2
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Beucler N. Collet-Sicard syndrome: prelude to a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosurg Rev 2024; 47:57. [PMID: 38244114 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-024-02298-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Beucler
- Neurosurgery department, Sainte-Anne Military Teaching Hospital, 2 Boulevard Sainte-Anne, 83800, Toulon, Cedex 9, France.
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3
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Aguilera-Pena MP, Castiblanco MA, Osejo-Arcos V, Aponte-Caballero R, Gutierrez-Gomez S, Abaunza-Camacho JF, Guevara-Moriones N, Benavides-Burbano CA, Riveros-Castillo WM, Saavedra JM. Collet-Sicard syndrome: a scoping review. Neurosurg Rev 2023; 46:244. [PMID: 37707587 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-023-02145-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Collet-Sicard syndrome (CSS) is the unilateral palsy of the cranial nerves (CN) IX, X, XI, and XII. To our knowledge, no review describes the characteristics of patients diagnosed with CSS. Therefore, this review aims to collect and describe all cases in the literature labeled as CSS. We performed a scoping review of the literature and conducted a database search in Embase and PubMed. We included articles and abstracts with case reports or case series of patients with CSS diagnosis. We classified the cases into two groups: "CSS", referring to patients presenting exclusively with IX-XII nerve involvement, and "CSS-plus", which corresponds to cases with CSS and other neurological impairments. We included 135 patients from 126 articles, of which 84 (67.7%) were male. The most common clinical manifestations reported were dysphagia and dysphonia. The most common etiology was tumoral in 53 cases (39.6%) and vascular in 37 cases (27.6%). The majority of patients showed partial or total improvement, with just over half receiving conservative treatment. The most frequent anatomic space was the jugular foramen (44.4%) and the parapharyngeal retrostyloid space (28.9%). Approximately 21% of the patients had other CN impairments, with the seventh and eighth CN most frequently compromised. We conclude that although there is a need for greater rigor in CSS reporting, the syndrome has a clear utility in identifying the localization of jugular foramen and parapharyngeal retrostyloid space pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria A Castiblanco
- Center for Research and Training in Neurosurgery (CIEN), Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Samaritana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Mayor-Mederi, Bogotá, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Valentina Osejo-Arcos
- Center for Research and Training in Neurosurgery (CIEN), Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Samaritana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Mayor-Mederi, Bogotá, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Rafael Aponte-Caballero
- Center for Research and Training in Neurosurgery (CIEN), Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Samaritana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Mayor-Mederi, Bogotá, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Santiago Gutierrez-Gomez
- Center for Research and Training in Neurosurgery (CIEN), Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Samaritana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Mayor-Mederi, Bogotá, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan Felipe Abaunza-Camacho
- Center for Research and Training in Neurosurgery (CIEN), Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Samaritana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Mayor-Mederi, Bogotá, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Camilo Armando Benavides-Burbano
- Center for Research and Training in Neurosurgery (CIEN), Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Samaritana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Mayor-Mederi, Bogotá, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - William M Riveros-Castillo
- Center for Research and Training in Neurosurgery (CIEN), Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Samaritana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Mayor-Mederi, Bogotá, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Javier M Saavedra
- Center for Research and Training in Neurosurgery (CIEN), Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Samaritana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Universitario Mayor-Mederi, Bogotá, Colombia
- School of Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
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4
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Vertebrobasilar and internal carotid arteries dissection in 188 patients. J Clin Neurosci 2021; 93:6-16. [PMID: 34656262 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2021.07.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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5
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Al-Shabibi T, Hamdi H, Balaha A, Ghoraba Y, Kaya JM. Delayed Collet-Sicard syndrome after internal carotid dissection and Jefferson fracture. Case report and Review of Literature. Surg Neurol Int 2021; 12:374. [PMID: 34513141 PMCID: PMC8422438 DOI: 10.25259/sni_375_2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Lower cranial nerve palsies, or Collet-Sicard syndrome, can be caused by many different etiologies including head trauma, basilar occipital fractures, tumors, and interventions. Few reports describe different presentations of this condition, and we present here a case study to increase awareness of and add to the variable spectrum. Case Description: A 56-year-old who had been hit while diving was admitted to our department. On examination, he was conscious without any signs of lateralization but presented with severe neck pain. CT brain and cervical spine revealed a C1 fracture with bilateral symmetrical fracture of the anterior and posterior arches (Jefferson’s fracture) and slight bilateral joint dislocation C1-C2 discreetly predominant on the left. One week later, he presented with dysarthria, dysphonia, swallowing disorder, anisocoria, tongue deviation, and palate deviation (XII, IX, and X). CT Angiography showed dissection of the internal carotid artery immediately after the carotid bulb. He has been treated conservatively with curative anticoagulants with stable symptoms. No surgical intervention had been proposed. Conclusion: Adding to the literature, delayed Collet-Sicard syndrome and lower cranial affection can be caused by missed carotid wall hematoma following severe craniocervical trauma associated with Jefferson’s fracture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talal Al-Shabibi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Marseille Nord, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Hussein Hamdi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tanta University, Tanta, Gharbeya, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Balaha
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tanta University, Tanta, Gharbeya, Egypt
| | - Yasser Ghoraba
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tanta University, Tanta, Gharbeya, Egypt
| | - Jean-Marc Kaya
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Marseille Nord, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
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6
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Stevic I, Chan HH, Chan AK. Carotid artery dissections: Thrombosis of the false lumen. Thromb Res 2011; 128:317-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2011.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2011] [Revised: 06/16/2011] [Accepted: 06/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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7
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Komotar RJ, Mocco J, Samuelson RM, Tawk RG, Siddiqui AH, Levy EI, Hopkins LN. Rapidly successive, symptomatic, bilateral, spontaneous vertebral artery dissections: treatment with stent reconstruction. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 72:300-5. [PMID: 18514287 DOI: 10.1016/j.surneu.2008.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2007] [Accepted: 02/18/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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8
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Battaglia F, Martini L, Tannier C. [Collet-Sicard syndrome after carotid artery dissection]. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2008; 165:588-90. [PMID: 19038409 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2008.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2008] [Revised: 08/20/2008] [Accepted: 10/13/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Collet-Sicard syndrome is a rare condition, defined as unilateral palsy of the last four cranial nerves. It differs from Villaret syndrome because of absence of sympathetic involvement. Collet-Sicard syndrome is most often caused by skull tumors, carotid artery dissections or head and neck trauma. We report the case of a 57-year-old man who presented palsy of the left lower cranial nerves IX-XII linked to carotid artery dissection after trivial neck injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Battaglia
- Service de neurologie, centre hospitalier A.-Gayraud, route de Saint-Hiliare, 11890 Carcassonne cedex, France.
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Marshman LAG, Ball L, Jadun CK. Spontaneous bilateral carotid and vertebral artery dissections associated with multiple disparate intracranial aneurysms, subarachnoid hemorrhage and spontaneous resolution. Case report and literature review. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2007; 109:816-20. [PMID: 17709178 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2007.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2007] [Revised: 07/06/2007] [Accepted: 07/09/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous bilateral carotid and vertebral artery dissections (CADs and VADs) are rare. A 29-year-old female presented with a collapse, 4 weeks after a sudden onset of severe neck and shoulder pain. CT scan revealed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and early hydrocephalus. Angiography revealed bilateral CADs and VADs, along with multiple fusiform and saccular aneurysms. Systemic vessels - including the renal arteries - were normal, and no risk factors or underlying vasculopathy were apparent. The presumed source of SAH (a posterior cerebral artery aneurysm) was successfully clipped. Each dissection, by contrast, was managed conservatively with heparin prophylaxis; and spontaneous CAD and VAD resolution occurred within 6 months. We present a unique case of four-vessel dissection associated with multiple disparate saccular and fusiform aneurysms. We suspect that underlying vasculopathy - perhaps novel - may become apparent with time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence A G Marshman
- Department of Neurosurgery, North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 7LN, United Kingdom.
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10
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Erol FS, Topsakal C, Kaplan M, Yildirim H, Ozveren MF. Collet-Sicard syndrome associated with occipital condyle fracture and epidural hematoma. Yonsei Med J 2007; 48:120-3. [PMID: 17326254 PMCID: PMC2627996 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2007.48.1.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A 31-year-old male was presented with a very rare case of ipsilateral palsies of the nerves IX through XII (Collet-Sicard syndrome) after a closed head injury. An occipital condyle fracture that was associated with epidural hematoma was diagnosed by computed tomography. The patient was conservatively managed, and following the treatment, partial neurological recovery ensued. The phenomenon of occipital condyle fracture involving the last four cranial nerve palsies is relatively rare. Although 3 cases of Collet-Sicard syndrome that were caused by an occipital condyle fracture has been reported, the association between condyle fracture and epidural hematoma has never been described before.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatih Serhat Erol
- Department of Neurosurgery, Firat Universitesi, Tip Fakultesi, Norosirurji Anabilim Dali, Elazig, Turkey.
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11
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Knibb J, Lenthall R, Bajaj N. Internal carotid artery dissection presenting with ipsilateral tenth and twelfth nerve palsies and apparent mass lesion on MRI. Br J Radiol 2005; 78:659-61. [PMID: 15961853 DOI: 10.1259/bjr/57426025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the case of a 47-year-old man who presented with a few months' history of right-sided headache and dysphagia, with ipsilateral tenth and twelfth cranial nerve palsies on examination. The initial MRI showed an enhancing mass lesion in relation to the right carotid sheath and jugular foramen, and was reported as a possible paraganglioma. Subsequent angiography performed to assess tumour vascularity demonstrated a dissection involving a tonsillar loop of the right internal carotid artery (ICA). Imaging findings at MRI and angiography and the presentations and mechanisms of ICA dissection are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Knibb
- Queen's Medical Centre, Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
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12
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Dissection of the vertebral artery complicating Jefferson fracture. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY AND TRAUMATOLOGY 2004. [DOI: 10.1007/s00590-004-0172-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Pace F, Toni D, Di Angelantonio E, Lorenzano S, Argentino C. Spontaneous multiple cervical artery dissection: two case reports and a review of the literature. J Emerg Med 2004; 27:133-8. [PMID: 15261354 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2004.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2003] [Revised: 02/11/2004] [Accepted: 03/30/2004] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Although spontaneous cervical artery dissection (CAD) is an uncommon cause of stroke in the general population, it accounts for 10-25% of cerebrovascular events in young to middle-aged patients. Two or more vessels are involved in fewer than 15% of dissections, but multiple spontaneous CADs are likely to be underestimated owing to frequent spontaneous recanalization and the possible oligo-symptomatic presentation. An extensive review of the literature shows that in the last 30 years only 28 cases of multiple CADs have been reported, and that in half of these patients symptoms were minor and transient. We describe two cases of multiple spontaneous CADs presenting as transient ischemic attack (TIA), in which only a specific diagnostic flow-chart allowed us to recognize multiple vessel involvement and start the appropriate therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Pace
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj D Rao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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Fukunaga A, Tabuse M, Naritaka H, Nakamura T, Akiyama T. Spontaneous resolution of nontraumatic bilateral intracranial vertebral artery dissections. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 2002; 42:491-5. [PMID: 12472213 DOI: 10.2176/nmc.42.491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A 49-year-old man presented with nontraumatic bilateral intracranial vertebral artery dissections without subarachnoid hemorrhage manifesting as Wallenberg's syndrome on the right. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an infarct in the right dorsolateral aspect of the medulla oblongata. Antiplatelet therapy was administered. Vertebral angiography performed on the 9th hospital day (Day 9) revealed pearl and string sign in the right vertebral artery and narrowing of the left vertebral artery. Second angiography performed on Day 25 showed no change, but third angiography performed on Day 74 revealed spontaneous resolution of the bilateral vertebral artery dissections. Magnetic resonance angiography performed on Day 250 showed no evidence of dissection. However, magnetic resonance imaging revealed a small infarct in the splenium of the corpus callosum. Spontaneous resolution of stenotic dissections of the bilateral vertebral arteries is extremely unusual. Serial cerebral angiography and magnetic resonance angiography are very important for monitoring the time course of changes in patients with vertebral artery dissections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Fukunaga
- Department of Neurosurgery, Saiseikai Kanagawaken Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
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Guy N, Deffond D, Gabrillargues J, Carriere N, Dordain G, Clavelou P. Spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection with lower cranial nerve palsy. Can J Neurol Sci 2001; 28:265-9. [PMID: 11513348 DOI: 10.1017/s031716710000144x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Typical presentation of spontaneous internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection is an ipsilateral pain in neck and face with Horner's syndrome and contralateral deficits. Although rare, lower cranial nerve palsy have been reported in association with an ipsilateral spontaneous ICA dissection. CASE STUDIES We report three new cases of ICA dissection with lower cranial nerve palsies. RESULTS The first symtom to appear was headache in all three patients. Examination disclosed a Horner's syndrome in two cases (1 and 2), an isolated XIIth nerve palsy in two patients (case 1 and 3) and IX, X, and XIIth nerve palsies (case 2) revealing an ipsilateral carotid dissection, confirmed by MRI and angiography. In all cases, prognosis was good after a few weeks. CONCLUSIONS These cases, analysed with those in the literature, led us to discuss two possible mechanisms: direct compression of cranial nerves by a subadventitial haematoma in the parapharyngeal space or ischemic palsy by compression of the ascending pharyngeal artery.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Guy
- Fédération de Neurologie, CHU de Clermont Ferrand, France
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Guidetti D, Pisanello A, Giovanardi F, Morandi C, Zuccoli G, Troiso A. Spontaneous carotid dissection presenting lower cranial nerve palsies. J Neurol Sci 2001; 184:203-7. [PMID: 11239957 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-510x(01)00440-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cranial nerve palsy in internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection occurs in 3--12% of all patients, but in 3% of these a syndrome of hemicranias and ipsilateral cranial nerve palsy is the sole manifestation of ICA dissection, and in 0.5% of cases there is only cranial nerve palsy without headache. We present two cases of lower cranial nerve palsy. The first patient, a 49-year-old woman, developed left eleventh and twelfth cranial nerve palsies and ipsilateral neck pain. The angio-RM showed an ICA dissection with stenosis of 50%, beginning about 2 cm before the carotid channel. The patient was treated with oral anticoagulant therapy and gradually improved, until complete clinical recovery. The second patient, a 38-year-old woman, presented right hemiparesis and neck pain. The left ICA dissection, beginning 2 cm distal to the bulb, was shown by ultrasound scanning of the carotid and confirmed by MR angiogram and angiography with lumen stenosis of 90%. Following hospitalisation, 20 days from the onset of symptoms, paresis of the left trapezius and sternocleidomastoideus muscles became evident. The patient was treated with oral anticoagulant therapy and only a slight right arm paresis was present at 10 months follow-up. Cranial nerve palsy is not rare in ICA dissection, and the lower cranial nerve palsies in various combinations constitute the main syndrome, but in most cases these are present with the motor or sensory deficit due to cerebral ischemia, along with headache or Horner's syndrome. In the diagnosis of the first case, there was further difficulty because the cranial nerve palsy was isolated without hemiparesis, and the second case presented a rare association of hemiparesis and palsy of the eleventh cranial nerve alone. Compression or stretching of the nerve by the expanded artery may explain the palsies, but an alternative cause is also possible, namely the interruption of the nutrient vessels supplying the nerve, which in our patients is more likely.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Guidetti
- Divisione Neurologica, Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Maria Nuova, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
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