Collet–Sicard Syndrome Caused by Spontaneous Internal Carotid Artery Dissection: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Dissection of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is a serious and acute event that can present with different clinical pictures. In most cases, dissection involves the intracranial portion of the internal carotid artery, and depending on the location and extent of the vascular injury, symptoms should include hemiplegia, visual impairment, ophthalmoplegia, and loss of consciousness. In clinical practice, however, it is important to consider the possibility of ICA dissection in the neck or in the region of the carotid foramen at the base of the skull and its association with atypical symptoms such as acute and progressive mixed cranial nerve deficits in the absence of other neurological signs. In any case, ICA dissection requires a rapid and effective physical examination (neurologist, anesthesiologist, otolaryngologist) and neuroradiological assessment. We report a rare case of Collet–Sicard syndrome due to spontaneous dissection of the extracranial part of the ICA and include a detailed review of the literature.

Cite this article as: Piazza F, Ciccone A, Calvaruso F. Collet-sicard syndrome caused by spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection: A case report and review of literature. Balkan ORL-HNS 2024;1(1):37-41.