Extracranial spontaneous bilateral carotid dissection

Abstract

Spontaneous bilateral carotid dissection is a rare entity, of unclear etiology, but with clinical relevance, since it can occur in 15-20% of cases of dissection. We present the clinical case of a 54-year-old man, with arterial hypertension as the only vascular risk factor, who developed, in relation to an upper airway infection, a cerebral infarction of the left carotid circulation, secondary to ipsilateral carotid dissection. Two days later contralateral carotid cerebral ischemia was documented, also secondary to carotid dissection. Subsequently a review and discussion of the subject is made, due to the importance of early detection and management.