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Turk Beyin Damar Hastaliklar Dergisi, vol.17, no.1, pp.1-7, 2011 (Scopus)
Cervical artery dissection (CAD) is an important cause of stroke and transient ischemic attacks in young and middle-aged patients. Mural hematoma occurs within the media layer extending distally. It is usually subintimal and causes arterial stenosis/occlusion, leading to cerebral ischemia due to embolization or, less frequently, to hemodynamic failure. Clinical findings and imaging tools play major role in diagnosis and follow-up of patients with CAD. Conventional angiography is a gold standard tool for diagnosis. Recently MR/MRA and CT/CTA have emerged as viable alternatives for diagnosis. Radiologic hallmarks of CAD include a luminal flap, a false lumen, the presence of a mural hematoma or a long tapered stenosis/occlusion, or a dissecting aneurysm. To prevent thromboembolic complications, anticoagulation is usually recommended.