Stylocarotid artery syndrome as a cause of stroke

Stylocarotid artery syndrome as a cause of stroke

S.M. Andreev, L.V. Timchenko, V.V. Sidorenko

Research Institute of the Regional Clinical Hospital No. 1, Krasnodar

In recent years, the development of vascular neurology is due not only to technological progress in the treatment of acute and chronic cerebrovascular diseases but also to accumulated experience in defining and assessing the causes of their progression. Among the rare but no less significant causes, congenital and acquired disproportions of anatomical structures hold a special place. The central place is occupied by the stylohyoid syndrome and its forms: stylopharyngeal and stylocarotid. Despite the fact that the literature focuses on the course description of the chronic types in both forms, it is the acute manifestations of the stylocarotid form that are the most threatening. Given the risk of acute cerebrovascular disorders, the relevance of this topic is due to the need for an early assessment of such condition progression in patients with already diagnosed stylohyoid syndrome and their correction, as well as in those who have not been diagnosed with this disease due to the absence of any previous clinical manifestations. The article considers a difficult-to-treat clinical case of severe ischemic stroke with the involvement of both hemispheres in the setting of acute stylohyoid syndrome and thrombophilia predisposition. The rarity of such condition occurrence does not detract from the fact that it is necessary to assess the stroke risk factors. The importance of a multidisciplinary and patient-specific approach with the involvement of diagnostic specialists to achieve an optimal outcome is noted.

Keywords: stylohyoid syndrome, ischemic stroke, thrombophilia, carotid artery dissection, neurorehabilitation, hemicranioectomy.

For citation: Andreev S.M., Timchenko L.V., Sidorenko V.V. Stylocarotid artery syndrome as a cause of stroke. RMJ. 2024;4:51–54.