Risk of stroke due to spontaneous cervical artery dissection

Abstract

Although spontaneous cervical artery dissection (SCAD) is generally a rare contributor to a stroke, this condition triggers a considerable percentage of the strokes that are observed in young to middle-aged patients. We herein report the findings of a patient who presented with a stroke and a severe headache. A diagnosis of SCAD was made following a series of examinations. The patient had high-grade stenosis in the cervical artery and received carotid angioplasty along with stenting. A diagnosis of SCAD should be suspected if a patient who is less than 50 years of age presents with a stroke and a severe headache, and CT or an MRI scan rules out hemorrhage. © 2013 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.