Diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous carotid artery dissection

Objective To discuss the diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous carotid artery dissection(SCAD).Methods Clinical diagnosis and treatment data of 9 patients with SCAD were analyzed retrospectively.Results Vascular ultrasound showed stenoses or occlusions of carotid artery.Angiography showed flame-shaped sign in totally occluded proximal section and free intimal flap in stenoses section.One patient with total occlusion of bilateral internal carotid artery and 6 patients with total occlusion of unilateral internal carotid artery were treated with antiplatelet therapy.Two patients with incomplete occlusion of the carotid were operated with stent implantation in carotid arteries,and the clinical effect of both operations was satisfactory.Conclusion Angiography remains the gold standard in diagnosing SCAD,and stent implantation is an effective treatment of this disease.