Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases
Volume 19, Issue 1 , Pages 73-74, January 2010

An Unusual Cause of Transient Neurologic Deficits: Compression of the Carotid Artery by a Thyroid Cystic Nodule

  • Hilde M.H. Braakman, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Sittard, the Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to Hilde M. H. Braakman, MD, Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, the Netherlands.
    • ,
  • Stephanie A.M. Knippenberg, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Maasland Hospital, Sittard, the Netherlands
    • ,
  • Bert-Jan de Bondt, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Sittard, the Netherlands
    • ,
  • Jan Lodder, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Sittard, the Netherlands

Received 21 July 2008; received in revised form 2 February 2009; accepted 11 February 2009.

We report a case of a 93-year-old man, who presented with limb-shaking transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) after orthostatic position change or turning his head to the left. The limb-shaking TIAs resulted from external compression of the carotid artery. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography of the head and neck and Doppler ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland revealed a large cystic nodule in the right thyroid lobe, resulting in compression and posterior displacement of the right common carotid artery. Clinicians should be aware that limb-shaking TIAs can not only result from obstructive extracerebral or intracerebral artery disease, but also from external compression of the carotid artery.

Key Words: Ischemic attack, transient, carotid stenosis, thyroid nodule, magnetic resonance angiography, Doppler ultrasound

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PII: S1052-3057(09)00039-1

doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2009.02.007

Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases
Volume 19, Issue 1 , Pages 73-74, January 2010

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