Carotid artery dissection: What are the signs and symptoms?

What are the signs and symptoms of carotid artery dissection? Is this a serious condition?

- Pieter / Germany

Mayo Clinic hypertension specialist Sheldon Sheps, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Carotid artery dissection

Signs and symptoms of carotid artery dissection may include:

Headache or neck pain
Decreased pupil size with drooping of the upper eyelid (Horner syndrome)
Transient vision loss
Ischemic stroke

The carotid arteries, which supply blood to your brain, are located in the front part of your neck. A dissection is a tear in the inner lining of an artery, sometimes caused by trauma. Dissections can also occur spontaneously, without a clear cause. This tear in the artery allows blood to leak into the artery wall.

Carotid artery dissection can be life-threatening and requires emergency medical attention.