Triple carotid aneurysms in a patient with migraine attacks
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《神经病学神经外科学杂志》
1 Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
2 Department of Neurosurgery, Charite, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Correspondence to:
Dr G Benndorf
Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, MS 360, Houston, Texas 77030-3498, US; benndorf@bcm.tmc.edu
Keywords: migraine; triple carotid aneurysm; 3D DSA
A 28 year old woman presented with a history of worsening migraine headaches for 15 years. She reported to have right temporal headaches several times a month accompanied by nausea and photophobia. The patient was treated with flunarizine and rizatriptan 10 mg daily with little response.
MRI of the brain showed findings suggestive of a vascular lesion adjacent to the right cavernous sinus. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed three aneurysms in the petrous and cavernous segments of the right internal carotid artery unusually situated like "pearls on a string" (fig 1). The most distally located aneurysm arose from the C5 portion, measured 18 mm in diameter and caused a mass effect within the posterior cavernous sinus region. Three-dimensional images obtained after angiography clearly revealed a complex anatomy consisting of rather fusiform dilatations without clear distinction between the neck of the aneurysms and the parent artery (fig 2). Permanent carotid occlusion was performed successfully and she recovered from her migraine episodes with only occasional minor headaches remaining.
Figure 1 DSA of the right internal carotid artery. Lateral view reveals three aneurysms involving the petrous and the cavernous segment. The most distal one, arising from the C5 portion, has a diameter of 18 mm and is directed cranially and posteriorly (arrows).
Figure 2 3D image (3D DSA, surface shaded display) showing the medial aspect of the aneurysms. Only the small proximal aneurysm has a saccular shape. The two larger aneurysms appear to be fusiform type dilatations without discrete separation between aneurysmal neck and parent vessel (miniature: A–P view).
Triple carotid aneurysms as described here are extremely uncommon and represent a therapeutic challenge, particularly if located at the skull base. The association of a carotid aneurysm and migraine like headaches in older patients has been described in only a few case reports.1,2 Patients with longstanding headaches or migraine should undergo a brain imaging to exclude an underlying vascular cause which may allow curative treatment. High quality 3D imaging of vascular structures significantly improves understanding of complex vascular anatomy and may facilitate clinical decision making.
REFERENCES
Alberti A , Sarchielli P, Mazzotta G, et al. Migraine-like headache in a patient with a giant aneurysm of the intracranial internal carotid artery. Cephalalgia 2001;21 (4) :511.
Narbone MC, Rao R, Grugno R, et al. A late ‘migraine’: the only symptom of an intrasellar aneurysm. Headache 1997;37 (8) :527–8.(G Benndorf1, R M Naeini1 )
2 Department of Neurosurgery, Charite, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Correspondence to:
Dr G Benndorf
Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, MS 360, Houston, Texas 77030-3498, US; benndorf@bcm.tmc.edu
Keywords: migraine; triple carotid aneurysm; 3D DSA
A 28 year old woman presented with a history of worsening migraine headaches for 15 years. She reported to have right temporal headaches several times a month accompanied by nausea and photophobia. The patient was treated with flunarizine and rizatriptan 10 mg daily with little response.
MRI of the brain showed findings suggestive of a vascular lesion adjacent to the right cavernous sinus. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed three aneurysms in the petrous and cavernous segments of the right internal carotid artery unusually situated like "pearls on a string" (fig 1). The most distally located aneurysm arose from the C5 portion, measured 18 mm in diameter and caused a mass effect within the posterior cavernous sinus region. Three-dimensional images obtained after angiography clearly revealed a complex anatomy consisting of rather fusiform dilatations without clear distinction between the neck of the aneurysms and the parent artery (fig 2). Permanent carotid occlusion was performed successfully and she recovered from her migraine episodes with only occasional minor headaches remaining.
Figure 1 DSA of the right internal carotid artery. Lateral view reveals three aneurysms involving the petrous and the cavernous segment. The most distal one, arising from the C5 portion, has a diameter of 18 mm and is directed cranially and posteriorly (arrows).
Figure 2 3D image (3D DSA, surface shaded display) showing the medial aspect of the aneurysms. Only the small proximal aneurysm has a saccular shape. The two larger aneurysms appear to be fusiform type dilatations without discrete separation between aneurysmal neck and parent vessel (miniature: A–P view).
Triple carotid aneurysms as described here are extremely uncommon and represent a therapeutic challenge, particularly if located at the skull base. The association of a carotid aneurysm and migraine like headaches in older patients has been described in only a few case reports.1,2 Patients with longstanding headaches or migraine should undergo a brain imaging to exclude an underlying vascular cause which may allow curative treatment. High quality 3D imaging of vascular structures significantly improves understanding of complex vascular anatomy and may facilitate clinical decision making.
REFERENCES
Alberti A , Sarchielli P, Mazzotta G, et al. Migraine-like headache in a patient with a giant aneurysm of the intracranial internal carotid artery. Cephalalgia 2001;21 (4) :511.
Narbone MC, Rao R, Grugno R, et al. A late ‘migraine’: the only symptom of an intrasellar aneurysm. Headache 1997;37 (8) :527–8.(G Benndorf1, R M Naeini1 )