A case of spontaneous dissection of the left internal carotid artery diagnosed using a microconvex probe with B-flow imaging

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Stroke Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 236 - 240
• Main Authors: Sakima, Hirokuni, Isa, Katsunori, Nakachi, Koh, Nagamine, Hideki, Kokuba, Kazuhito, Shiroma, Kanako, Ishihara, Satoshi, Tokashiki, Takashi, Ishiuchi, Shogo, Ohya, Yusuke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Stroke Society 25.03.2011
• Subjects: B-flow imaging; internal carotid artery dissection; microconvex probe
• DOI: 10.3995/jstroke.33.236
• ISSN: 0912-0726

A 33-year-old man had episodic symptoms of motor aphasia and sensory disturbance of the right side of the face that lasted about one minute while running. He had a second attack two days after the first attack. A brain MRI revealed a cortical infarct in the left middle cerebral artery territory. Difficulty was encountered in using duplex carotid ultrasonography with a linear probe to evaluate the left extracranial cervical internal carotid artery (LECICA) with a high bifurcation. As an alternative evaluation, a microconvex probe (MCP) showed the LECICA lesion with a narrow lumen surrounded by a hypoechoic lesion and with an increased vascular diameter for a length of 2 cm, starting from 2 cm distal to the carotid bulb. In addition, B-flow imaging (BFI) clearly showed echogenic structures of a hyperechoic intravascular lumen; a hypoechoic lesion with a subtle flow signal, which indicated a false lumen; and a mobile membranous septal structure between them. The findings of contrast-enhanced CT angiography were consistent with those of the B-flow imaging. The LECICA lesion was diagnosed as a spontaneous dissection. Carotid ultrasonography using MCP with BFI can improve the diagnosis of extracranial carotid artery dissection, which has been difficult for patients with high bifurcation of the carotid artery.