Pain as an alarm signal in cervical carotid dissection: report of a case with catastrophic evolution

Abstract

Background
 Cervical carotid dissection is a commonly reported arteriopathy and is associated with stroke in young, healthy patients.
 Case report
 The authors present a case of a woman with pain of recent onset secondary to a dissection of the cervical segment of the carotid artery on the same side and that evolved with stroke.
 Conclusion
 The diagnosis of arterial dissection is based on clinical suspicion and angiographic images of the encephalic vessels.