[Spontaneous dissecting aneurysm of the cervical internal carotid artery. Report of 2 cases and review of literature].

Two cases of the spontaneous dissecting aneurysm (SDA) of the cervical carotid artery (ICA) were reported. Case 1: A 36 years old man was admitted with a sudden onset of right hemiparesis, aphasia and a one-week history of headache and neck pain. Serological examinations were normal. Angiography showed a severe stenosis with two intimal flaps of the left cervical ICA. Four weeks later, left STA-MCA anastomosis was performed. After six weeks from the onset, re-angiography showed the resolution of the left cervical ICA stenosis. Case 2: A 26 years old man experienced the transient monoocular blindness a week before admission. He was admitted with a sudden onset of right hemiparesis and aphasia. Serological examinations were normal. Angiography showed a postsinus tapering occlusion of the left cervical ICA. Four weeks later, left STA-MCA anastmosis was performed. After the operation, left hemiparesis improved remarkably. After two weeks from the operation, re-angiography showed the complete resolution of the left cervical ICA stenosis. As the differential diagnoses, spasm, arteritis, embolism and thrombosis with atherosclerosis were listed. But from the reason reported, we diagnosed the two cases as the resolution of the SDA of the ICA. From the previous literature, 129 cases of SDA of the ICA were reviewed and discussed about the symptom, angiographic findings and treatment. Some specific findings (high frequency of resolution, 87%, etc.) were found. SDA of the ICA occurs in the non-atherosclerotic age and causes the ischemic brain damage. SDA of the ICA should be paid more attention and will probably be identified more frequently.