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Article: Anomalous course of the carotid arteries in the retropharyngeal space poses a surgical risk.(IMAGING CLINIC)
- Article from:
- Ear, Nose and Throat Journal
- Article date:
- June 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Vendome Group LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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An anomalous course of the carotid arteries in the retropharyngeal space is an unusual finding that poses a risk of vascular injury during pharyngeal surgery. The risk is conferred by the close proximity of these arteries to the midline of the posterior portion of the pharynx. Two cases illustrate such a finding:
* Patient 1 was a 79-year-old man who had been diagnosed with left tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma. On endoscopic examination, we noted a significant distortion of the posterior pharyngeal wall, which warranted a biopsy. Computed tomography (CT) with contrast obtained prior to the biopsy demonstrated anomalous bilateral retropharyngeal internal carotid ...