Carotidynia in high-altitude travelers

Abstract

Background Carotidynia is characterized by focal pain and tenderness of the carotid artery without associated hemodynamic or structural abnormalities. Carotid artery pathology has also been known to occur in high altitude due to aberrant baroreceptor response in the carotid bulb. Case Presentation We herein report two cases of high altitude-related idiopathic carotidynia. The first patient was a geologist who performed oil reserve survey in the Alaska Mountain, while the second patient was hiking in a mountain trail in Peru. Both patients developed acute onset of neck pain while traveling in high-altitude mountainous ranges. Carotid imaging showed transmural inflammation surrounding the carotid artery without intraluminal stenosis. Treatment with low-dose aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug were initiated, which resulted in complete resolution of their symptom. Follow-up carotid ultrasound showed complete resolution of carotid inflammatory tissue density. Discussion This represents the first report linking carotidynia to high-altitude traveling.

Subacute and Recurrent Transient Perivascular Inflammation of the Carotid Artery (TIPIC syndrome) and Supraclavicular Lymphadenopathy Associated with Ipsilateral Intramuscular m-RNA COVID-19 Vaccine

“…The etiology of the syndrome is not clear yet. TIPIC syndrome due to chemotherapy, Burkitt's lymphoma, high-altitude traveling, fluoxetine use, heralding the onset of acute leukemia, and following flu-like illness has been reported (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Recently it has been recognized among the complications of COVID-19 (9)(10)(11).…”