Cervical (Carotid or Vertebral) Artery Dissection

Symptoms and risk factors for a tear in the arteries of the neck

Cervical artery dissection is a condition in which there is a tear in the wall of one of the four main arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain. These arteries are:

• Carotid arteries: These two arteries run along each side of the neck. Carotid artery dissection is one of the most common causes of stroke in people younger than 50.
• Vertebral arteries: The two arteries are located in the back of the neck near the spine. Vertebral artery dissection is the less common of the two cervical artery dissections.

When a tear occurs, blood leaks through and spreads between the other layers of the artery’s wall. As blood collects, a clot forms and can block blood flow to the brain and can result in a stroke.

What are the symptoms of a carotid or vertebral artery dissection?

Symptoms of cervical artery dissection can develop over a period of hours, days or weeks and may include:

• Blindness in the eye
• Headache
• Neck and face pain
• Pulsatile tinnitus, a pulsing or whooshing sound in one of the ears
• Trouble speaking
• Vision problems such as double vision or a droopy eyelid
• Weakness on one side of the body

What are the risk factors of carotid or vertebral artery dissection?

Trauma to the neck, such as from a car accident, fall or overextension during physical activity, can cause cervical artery dissection.

There are also certain factors that put you at increased risk, including:

• Atherosclerosis, in which the arteries become narrow because of a buildup of plaque
• Fibromuscular dysplasia, a condition that causes abnormal growth in the walls of arteries
• Genetic connective tissue diseases such as Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• High blood pressure
• Smoking

Tests

Treatments

Preventing stroke is our primary goal when treating a cervical artery dissection. Treatment may vary depending on whether you have an underlying condition that contributed to the dissection. Options may include medication to prevent blood clots or minimally invasive techniques such as stenting to repair the tear.