[Tortuosity and kinking of cervical segment of internal carotid artery: an analysis of 7 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To outline the clinical manifestations and compare the different radiological methods of detecting malformation of cervical segment of internal carotid artery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 7 cases with malformation of cervical segment of internal carotid artery between May, 2004 and April, 2011. CT angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were used to detect the morphology of cervical segment of internal carotid artery. RESULTS: This disease entity provided no obvious symptoms in five cases, and such complains as pharyngeal foreign body sensation in one and odynophagia in another. Physical examination showed a bulge with pulsation on pharyngeal wall in four cases, and apparent normal pharynges in other three patients, all of which were covered with intact pharyngeal mucosa. Twelve carotid arteries were observed in seven cases, five of which were showed tortuosity and seven kinking. All of the five patients with recorded radiological materials had identified malformations of internal carotid artery, two of which were tortuosity bilaterally and two kinking bilaterally and one tortuosity and kinking respectively. CTA and MRA revealed tortuosity of cervical segment of internal carotid arteries. CONCLUSIONS: No typical clinical symptoms were shown in the malformation of cervical segment of internal carotid artery. Pharyngeal bulge with pulsation could be encountered. CTA and MRA showed excellent ability to depict the malformation of cervical segment of internal carotid artery and its relationship with surrounding structures, which could protect carotid artery from unintended damage.