Variability in the position of the retropharyngeal internal carotid artery1. (21st May 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gupta, Ajay; Shah, Akash D.; Zhang, Zhigang; Phillips, C. Douglas; Young, Robert J.
• Is Part Of: Laryngoscope. Volume 123:Number 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 401
• Page End: 403
• Publication Date: 2012-05-21
• Subjects: Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; 617.51005
• DOI: 10.1002/lary.23393
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-852X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The retropharyngeal internal carotid artery (ICA) is a well‐described arterial anomaly with important implications for patients undergoing pharyngeal approach surgical procedures. Existing clinical and imaging classification schemes for a retropharyngeal ICA take into account arterial distance to the pharyngeal mucosal wall. We describe a case of mobility of a retropharyngeal ICA between short‐interval imaging studies. The possibility of respiratory variability or other etiologies causing such changes in retropharyngeal carotid position have not been described previously. Our findings suggest that imaging findings from a single study alone may not be sufficient to confidently exclude this clinically significant arterial anomaly.</p> </abstract>