Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Stroke
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Leclerc, X.
Right arrow Articles by Pruvo, J.P.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Leclerc, X.
Right arrow Articles by Pruvo, J.P.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
Medline Plus Health Information
*Carotid Artery Disease
*CT Scans

(Stroke. 1996;27:461-466.)
© 1996 American Heart Association, Inc.


Articles

Helical CT for the Diagnosis of Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Dissection

X. Leclerc, MD; O. Godefroy, MD; A. Salhi, MD; C. Lucas, MD; D. Leys, MD J.P. Pruvo, MD

From the Departments of Radiology (X.L., A.S., J.P.P.) and Neurology (C.L., O.G., D.L.), University Hospital of Lille (France).

Correspondence to X. Leclerc, MD, Service de Neuroradiologie, Hôpital B, F-59037, Lille, France.

Background and Purpose We attempted to evaluate the sensitivity of helical CT for the diagnosis of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection.

Methods Sixteen consecutive patients with 18 angiographically confirmed extracranial ICA dissections were studied with a helical CT protocol with large-volume acquisition and thin axial slice reconstructions. A control group including normal and atherosclerotic ICAs was formed for comparison, and a blind interpretation of CT images was made by two observers. We evaluated the presence of stenosis, eccentric lumen, mural thickening, aneurysm, occlusion, and annular contrast enhancement. When the artery seemed to be occluded, we measured the external diameter of the ICA (1) on the occluded side, at its upper portion and most enlarged level, (2) at its lower portion, beyond the bulb, and (3) on the contralateral side, at its upper portion.

Results Interobserver agreement was good except for the presence of annular contrast enhancement. In the stenotic dissection group (n=12), the presence of a narrowed eccentric lumen at the upper portion of the ICA on axial CT images was classified correctly in all cases (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 100%). An arterial wall thickening was seen in all cases of dissection but also in three cases of the control group. In the occlusive dissection group (n=6), the enlargement of the dissected artery was the best criterion (sensitivity, 100%, specificity, 100%) for occlusive dissection.

Conclusions Helical CT seems to be a reliable method for evaluating extracranial ICA dissection. The analysis of the residual arterial lumen and the measurement of the external diameter of the carotid artery were the best criteria for the diagnosis. Further studies with larger groups are required to determine whether ICA dissections might be diagnosed using helical CT as a first procedure.


Key Words: carotid arteries • diagnostic imaging • dissection • tomography




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Am. J. Roentgenol.Home page
J. M. Provenzale and B. Sarikaya
Comparison of Test Performance Characteristics of MRI, MR Angiography, and CT Angiography in the Diagnosis of Carotid and Vertebral Artery Dissection: A Review of the Medical Literature
Am. J. Roentgenol., October 1, 2009; 193(4): 1167 - 1174.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Bone Joint Surg BrHome page
S. P. Edmundson, K. M. Hirpara, R. S. Ryan, T. O'Malley, and P. O'Grady
Delayed presentation of carotid artery dissection following major orthopaedic trauma resulting in dense hemiparesis
J Bone Joint Surg Br, April 1, 2009; 91-B(4): 536 - 539.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
BMJ Case ReportsHome page
L T Lucato, R B D Passos, C R Campos, A B Conforto, and A M McKinney
Multidetector-row computed tomography in the diagnosis of Collet-Sicard syndrome
BMJ Case Reports, February 16, 2009; 2009(feb04_1): bcr2007120972 - bcr2007120972.
[Full Text]


Home page
Am. J. Neuroradiol.Home page
A.T. Vertinsky, N.E. Schwartz, N.J. Fischbein, J. Rosenberg, G.W. Albers, and G. Zaharchuk
Comparison of Multidetector CT Angiography and MR Imaging of Cervical Artery Dissection
AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., October 1, 2008; 29(9): 1753 - 1760.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
RadioGraphicsHome page
C. W. Sliker
Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries: Imaging with Multidetector CT Angiography1
RadioGraphics, October 1, 2008; 28(6): 1689 - 1708.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
RadioGraphicsHome page
M. H. Rodallec, V. Marteau, S. Gerber, L. Desmottes, and M. Zins
Craniocervical Arterial Dissection: Spectrum of Imaging Findings and Differential Diagnosis1
RadioGraphics, October 1, 2008; 28(6): 1711 - 1728.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. PsychiatryHome page
L T Lucato, R B D Passos, C R Campos, A B Conforto, and A M McKinney
Multidetector-row computed tomography in the diagnosis of Collet-Sicard syndrome
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, May 1, 2008; 79(5): 521 - 521.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Roentgenol.Home page
C. W. Sliker, K. Shanmuganathan, and S. E. Mirvis
Diagnosis of Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries with 16-MDCT: Accuracy of Whole-Body MDCT Compared with Neck MDCT Angiography
Am. J. Roentgenol., March 1, 2008; 190(3): 790 - 799.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Ultrasound MedHome page
M. Tola, M. Yurdakul, and T. Cumhur
B-Flow Imaging in Low Cervical Internal Carotid Artery Dissection
J. Ultrasound Med., November 1, 2005; 24(11): 1497 - 1502.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Neuroradiol.Home page
C.-J. Chen, Y.-C. Tseng, T.-H. Lee, H.-L. Hsu, and L.-C. See
Multisection CT Angiography Compared with Catheter Angiography in Diagnosing Vertebral Artery Dissection
AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., May 1, 2004; 25(5): 769 - 774.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Arch SurgHome page
C. C. Cothren, E. E. Moore, W. L. Biffl, D. J. Ciesla, C. E. Ray Jr, J. L. Johnson, J. B. Moore, and J. M. Burch
Anticoagulation Is the Gold Standard Therapy for Blunt Carotid Injuries to Reduce Stroke Rate
Arch Surg, May 1, 2004; 139(5): 540 - 546.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
RadiologyHome page
F. Munera, J. A. Soto, D. M. Palacio, J. Castaneda, C. Morales, A. Sanabria, J. E. Gutierrez, and G. Garcia
Penetrating Neck Injuries: Helical CT Angiography for Initial Evaluation
Radiology, August 1, 2002; 224(2): 366 - 372.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
W. I. Schievink
Spontaneous Dissection of the Carotid and Vertebral Arteries
N. Engl. J. Med., March 22, 2001; 344(12): 898 - 906.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
H. Albrich, S. Feuerbach, P. Kasprzak, T. Gluck, J. Scholmerich, and U. Muller-Ladner
Three-dimensional computed tomography for visualization of carotid bypasses in Takayasu arteritis
Rheumatology, February 1, 2001; 40(2): 235 - 237.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
RadiologyHome page
F. Múnera, J. A. Soto, D. Palacio, S. M. Velez, and E. Medina
Diagnosis of Arterial Injuries Caused by Penetrating Trauma to the Neck: Comparison of Helical CT Angiography and Conventional Angiography
Radiology, August 1, 2000; 216(2): 356 - 362.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
Am. J. Roentgenol.Home page
S. D. LeBlang and D. B. Nunez Jr.
Noninvasive Imaging of Cervical Vascular Injuries
Am. J. Roentgenol., May 1, 2000; 174(5): 1269 - 1278.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Roentgenol.Home page
J. M. Provenzale
CT and MR Imaging of Nontraumatic Neurologic Emergencies
Am. J. Roentgenol., February 1, 2000; 174(2): 289 - 299.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Neuroradiol.Home page
X. Leclerc, C. Lucas, O. Godefroy, L. Nicol, A. Moretti, D. Leys, and J. P. Pruvo
Preliminary Experience Using Contrast-Enhanced MR Angiography to Assess Vertebral Artery Structure for the Follow-up of Suspected Dissection
AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., September 1, 1999; 20(8): 1482 - 1490.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
RadioGraphicsHome page
J. M. Provenzale
Nontraumatic Neurologic Emergencies: Imaging Findings and Diagnostic Pitfalls
RadioGraphics, September 1, 1999; 19(5): 1323 - 1331.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
B. Guillon, L. Brunereau, V. Biousse, H. Djouhri, C. Levy, and M.-G. Bousser
Long-term follow-up of aneurysms developed during extracranial internal carotid artery dissection
Neurology, July 1, 1999; 53(1): 117 - 117.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
StrokeHome page
T. Hosoya, M. Adachi, K. Yamaguchi, T. Haku, T. Kayama, and T. Kato
Clinical and Neuroradiological Features of Intracranial Vertebrobasilar Artery Dissection
Stroke, May 1, 1999; 30(5): 1083 - 1090.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
StrokeHome page
S. E. Kasner, L. L. Hankins, P. Bratina, and L. B. Morgenstern
Magnetic Resonance Angiography Demonstrates Vascular Healing of Carotid and Vertebral Artery Dissections
Stroke, October 1, 1997; 28(10): 1993 - 1997.
[Abstract] [Full Text]