MR Angiography for the Long-Term Follow-Up of Dissecting Aneurysms of the Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery

OBJECTIVE: We used MR angiography to examine and follow up the changes of dissecting aneurysms of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 101 consecutive patients with dissecting aneurysms of the extracranial ICA. Twenty patients with 26 spontaneous dissecting aneurysms were followed up with MR angiography every 1-2 years (men, 16; women, four; age range, 28-67 years; mean age, 51 years). RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up was 41 months (range, 10-93 months). At MR angiography follow-up, 20 aneurysms did not change, four decreased from their original size by 33-53% (mean, 43%), and two resolved. One patient had an asymptomatic recurrent dissecting aneurysm of the extracranial ICA. Clinically, no patient had a thromboembolic stroke or transient ischemic attack during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: MR angiography revealed that dissecting aneurysms of the extracranial ICA remain stable, decrease in size, or resolve--but they do not increase in size.