Journal of Nihon University Medical Association
Online ISSN : 1884-0779
Print ISSN : 0029-0424
ISSN-L : 0029-0424
Case Reports:
A Case of Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis Causing Subarachnoid Hemorrhage of Unknown Etiology
Hidetoshi KatsukiTakahiro KumagawaKatsunori ShijoAtsuo Yoshino
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2025 Volume 84 Issue 2 Pages 61-65

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Abstract

A woman in her 70s first presented with asymptomatic right internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, which was discovered incidentally during investigation for dizziness, and was followed up with MRA for over 10 years. She experienced sudden onset of headache, and CT revealed SAH. Cerebral angiography revealed a plexiform arterial network from the C2 portion of the right ICA that extended from the sylvian fissure to the temporal lobe. Angiography was used to visualize the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) from the contralateral side via the anterior communicating artery. She was followed conservatively and discharged home with a modified Rankin scale score of 0. Three years after the onset of SAH, she has not experienced any rebleeding episodes. In this case, MRA revealed ICA stenosis, so antiplatelet drugs were administered, and she was followed up with MRA. However, MRA can only provide morphological evaluation with blood flow investigation and cannot allow detailed evaluation of nonvisualized blood vessels. Plexus vessels that develop as collateral circulation associated with asymptomatic intracranial ICA stenosis/occlusion can also be at risk of bleeding. Rather than continuing indecisive follow-up with MRAs, we recommend invasive tests such as cerebral angiography to accurately understand and follow any progressive development of this condition.

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