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Open Access Case Report

Intrapetrous internal carotid artery dissection and essential thrombocythemia: what relationship? A case report

Daniele D'Ambrosio1†, David Della-Morte1,2*†, Gaetano Gargiulo1, Marianna Rossetti1, Tatjana Rundek2, Franco Rengo1 and Pasquale Abete1

Author Affiliations

1 Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Sciences, and Immunology, University Federico II, Naples, Italy

2 Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL – 33101, USA

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Cases Journal 2008, 1:354 doi:10.1186/1757-1626-1-354

Published: 27 November 2008

Abstract

Internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection is responsible for 10–20% of strokes in young and middle-aged patients. Isolated ICA dissection involving the intrapetrous carotid canal is particularly rare, and no case has been reported to describe an association between intrapetrous ICA dissection and essential thrombocythemia. We report a case of ischemic stroke in the presence of intrapetrous right ICA dissection and essential thrombocythemia. The diagnosis of essential thrombocythemia was performed by bone marrow biopsy. The essential thrombocythemia may cause endothelial dysfunction and predispose to vascular damage such as carotid artery dissection.