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Internal carotid artery transposition: another cause of widening of the retropharyngeal space

  • Head and neck radiology
  • Published:
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Abstract.

We present four cases of internal carotid artery (ICA) transposition which caused widening of the retropharyngeal soft tissues. Internal carotid artery transposition is a rare cause of retropharyngeal space enlargement, which can be accurately diagnosed in a non-invasive manner with spiral CT. Radiologists should be aware of this entity in the differential diagnosis of retropharyngeal space enlargement in symptomatic (dysphagia, pulsatile mass) and asymptomatic patients, and alert the clinician of its existence, due to the risk of massive bleeding if neck surgery is to be performed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital de Gipuzkoa, Paseo del Doctor Beguiristain, 115, E-20014 San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain, , , , , , ES

    J. Vega, G. Vega-Hazas & C. Biurrun

  2. Osatek PO. Doctor Beguiristain 109, Donostia, Spain, , , , , , ES

    C. Gervas

  3. Department of Radiology, Clinica Ntra. Sra. Asuncion, C/ Subida Izaskun 9, Tolosa, Spain, , , , , , ES

    C. Barrera

Authors
  1. J. Vega
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  2. C. Gervas
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  3. G. Vega-Hazas
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  4. C. Barrera
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  5. C. Biurrun
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Additional information

Received: 7 October 1997; Revision received: 9 February 1998; Accepted: 23 March 1998

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Vega, J., Gervas, C., Vega-Hazas, G. et al. Internal carotid artery transposition: another cause of widening of the retropharyngeal space. Eur Radiol 9, 347–348 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003300050678

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003300050678

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