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Tortuous internal carotid artery presenting as a pharyngeal mass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2010

S Hosokawa  and
H Mineta
S Hosokawa*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan
H Mineta
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Seiji Hosokawa, Department of Otolaryngology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan. Fax: +81 53 435 2253 E-mail: seijih@hama-med.ac.jp
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Abstract

Background:

Deformities of the carotid artery are rare. Tortuosity, kinking and coiling of the internal carotid artery may be observed with advancing age. A tortuous internal carotid artery may cause an abnormal sensation in the throat. In the early twentieth century, there were several reported cases of fatal haemorrhage during pharyngeal surgical procedures, because this condition went undetected.

Method and results:

We present two cases of tortuosity of the right internal carotid artery. Both women complained of abnormal throat sensations. Endoscopic studies and radiological examinations revealed tortuous right internal carotid arteries presenting as pulsatile masses. A literature review revealed that, in most reported cases, this deformity occurred on the right side. We believe that the defect and its right-sided predominance can be attributed to anatomical influences and factors affecting blood pressure.

Conclusion:

In most reported cases of tortuous internal carotid artery, the defect occurred on the right side and patients complained of an abnormal sensation in the throat. This information is useful in the diagnosis of this condition. It is important for otolaryngologists to recognise this anomaly, because fatal haemorrhage can occur in patients with this condition during surgical procedures on the pharynx.

Keywords

Internal Carotid ArteryNeckPharynxRadiology
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 9 , September 2010 , pp. 1033 - 1036
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

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