Vol.96 No.6 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 96 No.6 June 2003
Two Case s of Tortuous Internal Carotid Artery
Shinya Takano, Keisuke Miyajima, Eisaku Sugiura and Hajime Aramaki
Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Daini Hospital
We report two cases of tortuous internal carotid artery, both involving 81-year-old women. Case 1 had an abnormal sensation in the pharynx on swallowing, while case 2 had difficulty and mild pain on swallowing. MRA was useful for diagnosis. A pulsating mass was located in the lateral lymphatic band in case 2. She was advised to undergo a biopsy at another clinic, but this would have carried a risk of bleeding.
Previously reported patients with tortuous internal carotid artery have presented with an abnormal sensation in the pharynx, so it is necessary to consider the possibility of tortuous internal carotid artery in elderly patients with this symptom. Tonsillectomy is occasionally performed in elderly patients. There is a possibility of tortuosity of the internal carotid artery, even if a pulsating mass is not seen in the pharynx, and it is important to palpate the palatine tonsil before and during surgery.
Key words : tortuosity, internal carotid artery, MRA