Bilateral common carotid occlusion without neurological deficit.

A 40-year-old man presented with pain and numbness in his right arm. On his clinical examination, no neurological deficit was found. Bilateral common carotid artery duplex sonography scan demonstrated no flow in either lumen. No abnormality was recognized on brain CT. On cerebral digital substraction angiogram, total occlusion of the brachiocephalic trunk and left carotid artery were shown. There was a modest stenosis in the left vertebral artery. Collateral circulation feeding the intracranial carotid system mainly originated from the left vertebrobasilar system. Previous cases of bilateral carotid occlusion are reviewed and discussed.