Internal carotid artery dissection with Hypoglossal nerve palsy

Abstract

Carotid artery dissection accounts for 1-2% of ischaemic strokes with a higher prevalence in the younger. It can occur spontaneously or secondary to trauma. The manifestations include headache, cervical pain, symptoms of cerebral ischemia and cranial nerve palsy. The authors describe the case of a 52-year-old man who presented headache, cervical pain, dysarthria and tongue deviation on protrusion with weakness suggesting Hypoglossal nerve palsy. The inicial suspicion of internal carotid dissection was confirmed by angio computed tomography and a magnetic resonance.