Incidence and Risk Factors of the Retropharyngeal Carotid Artery on Cervical Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Koreckij, Jason; Alvi, Hasham M.; Gibly, Robert; Pang, Eric Pei Ping; Hsu, Wellington K.

doi:10.1097/brs.0b013e31827b0d4b

Cited by 25 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Prior studies have shown a prevalence of retropharyngeal carotid arteries of 2.6%. 10 The higher prevalence of retropharyngeal carotid arteries between our study and other studies may be related to differences in the method of determining retropharyngeal position and differences in patient demographics. Additionally, some prior studies have only commented on the retropharyngeal position of the internal carotid artery, while our study has shown that the common carotid artery and external carotid artery may also have a retropharyngeal position.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 49%

“…For this reason, however, our results may not necessarily apply to the population as a whole. Koreckij et al 10 found that an aberrant course to the carotid arteries was more common in female patients and was associated with significantly greater spondylosis and kyphosis than in agematched controls. The retropharyngeal carotid artery is a clinically important anatomic variant, and numerous complications associated with this anatomic variant have been reported in the literature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, retropharyngeal carotid arteries (defined by these authors as medial to the uncovertebral joint) were present in 2.6% of patients. 10 To date, only a single case report 11 (from the otolaryngology literature) has discussed the change in position of the carotid artery to and from a retropharyngeal location at 2 time points. In our own daily practice, we have noticed this change in position, which, in our experience, seems to occur at the level of the oropharynx and hypopharynx.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…9 Prior studies have documented the incidence of retropharyngeal carotid arteries. 10 A recent study evaluated the position of the internal carotid arteries on cervical spine MR imaging. In this study, retropharyngeal carotid arteries (defined by these authors as medial to the uncovertebral joint) were present in 2.6% of patients.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Moving Carotid Artery: A Retrospective Review of the Retropharyngeal Carotid Artery and the Incidence of Positional Changes on Serial Studies

Lukins¹,

Pilati

Escott

2015

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Retropharyngeal carotid arteries are a clinically relevant anatomic variant. Prior studies have documented their incidence, but only a single case report has discussed the change in position of the carotid artery to and from a retropharyngeal location. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of retropharyngeal carotid arteries and to evaluate the change in position of retropharyngeal carotid arteries over serial CT examinations of the neck.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 49%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Moving Carotid Artery: A Retrospective Review of the Retropharyngeal Carotid Artery and the Incidence of Positional Changes on Serial Studies

Lukins¹,

Pilati

Escott

2015

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol

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“…Patients with such an abnormality may require an alternate approach, such as one from the opposite anterior side or a posterior approach. [16]…”

Section: Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertebral artery injuries in cervical spine surgery

Schroeder¹,

Hsu²

2013

Surg Neurol Int

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Background:Vertebral artery injuries during cervical spine surgery are rare, but potentially fatal. When performing cervical spine surgery, it is imperative that the surgeon has a systematic approach for avoiding, and if necessary, dealing with a vertebral artery injury.Methods:This is a review paper.Results:Upper posterior cervical spine surgeries put the vertebral artery at the highest risk, as opposed to anterior subaxial cervical spine procedures, which put the artery at the least risk. A thorough understanding of the complex anatomy of the vertebral artery is mandatory prior to performing cervical spine surgery, and since the vertebral artery can have a variable course, especially in the upper cervical spine, the surgeon must minimize the possibility of an arterial injury by preoperatively assessing the artery with a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Intraoperatively, the surgeon must be aware of when the vertebral artery is most at risk, and take precautions to avoid an injury. In the event of an arterial injury, the surgeon must have a plan of action to (1) Achieve control of the hemorrhage. (2) Prevent acute central nervous system ischemia. (3) Prevent postoperative complications such as embolism and pseudoaneurysmConclusion:Prior to performing cervical spine surgery, one must understand the four A's of vertebral artery injuries: Anatomy, Assessment, Avoidance, and Action.

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Having a carotid in the throat: A rare case of internal carotid medialization‐induced dysphonia

De Stercke,

Dequanter,

Rodriguez

2023

Clinical Case Reports

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Key Clinical MessagePositional anomalies of the internal carotid artery are common. Often asymptomatic, they can cause dysphagia or dysphonia and can represent an important surgical risk. Knowing their existence is, therefore, essential for the ENT specialist.AbstractAberrant positions of the extracranial internal carotid artery (eICA) affect between 10 and 40% of the population and can present several forms that can bring them close to the pharyngeal walls. Although usually asymptomatic, some aberrant positions of eICA may cause symptoms such as cough or dysphagia but rarely dysphonia. Depending on their location, they can also represent a great risk during oro/hypopharyngeal interventions or intubations. We report here the case of a 72‐year‐old patient who presented for a first consultation with a little progressive chronic dysphonia without associated dysphagia or cough. The nasofibrostroboscopy revealed a pulsatile retrocricoid mass pushing the right arytenoid forward. Otherwise, the clinical examination of the ENT sphere was normal. A cervicofacial CT scan revealed a major medialization of the right carotid bifurcation and the eICA located within the retropharyngeal fatty space and causing a mass effect pushing forward and downward the right arytenoid and the piriform sinus, resulting in a loss of horizontality of the glottic plane. Given the absence of life‐threatening complications and the associated risk of surgery, no treatment was proposed. A follow‐up was established after discussion with the patient. The aim of this study was to describe a rare case of isolated dysphonia caused by right internal carotid medialization with mass effect on the arytenoid cartilage. It seems important for ENT to know these rare causes of dysphonia and/or dysphagia due to anatomical variations of eICA in order to avoid the operative risks associated with possible future therapeutic procedures in these patients.

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Incidence and Risk Factors of the Retropharyngeal Carotid Artery on Cervical Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Cited by 25 publications

References 13 publications

The Moving Carotid Artery: A Retrospective Review of the Retropharyngeal Carotid Artery and the Incidence of Positional Changes on Serial Studies

The Moving Carotid Artery: A Retrospective Review of the Retropharyngeal Carotid Artery and the Incidence of Positional Changes on Serial Studies

Vertebral artery injuries in cervical spine surgery

Having a carotid in the throat: A rare case of internal carotid medialization‐induced dysphonia

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