Carotidynia presenting as an atypical cause of unilateral neck pain in the emergency department

Abstract

Carotidynia is a rare presentation of atypical neck and face pain, which is due to inflammation around the carotid artery. Symptoms can get aggravated by head and neck movements, jaw movements and deglutition. It is usually a self- limiting illness, and it is treated conservatively with analgesics. Because of it is rarity, and partly due to physician's lack of understanding, it remains underdiagnosed. Our case report aims to shed light on the importance of how its diagnosis cannot be missed.