carotid arteryis a rare disease of the carotid artery causing pain in the face and neck. Also known as Fay's syndrome and TIPIC syndrome (transient perivascular carotid arteritis), it has no known cause and is usually not serious.
While carotidinnia requires little or no treatment, it still needs to be monitored to make sure the pain isn't related to another, more serious problem.
This article discusses the symptoms and causes of carotidinnia and explains how this unusual pain syndrome is diagnosed and treated.
What is the carotid artery?
The carotid arteries are blood vessels that supply blood to the brain, face, and neck. You have two on either side of your neck, the left and right common carotid arteries, which branch around the center of your neck into the external and external arteries.internal carotid arteries.
symptoms of carotidinia
Some people feel fine when an episode of carotidinnia occurs.If not, symptoms of carotidinium may include:
- Sudden, severe, unexplained, throbbing pain in the neck
- Neck pain and swelling that is unilateral (on one side of the neck)
- Pain and tenderness radiating to one side of the face and head
More specifically, pain and tenderness in the neck are located where the carotid artery divides into two branches.
There may also be swelling or fullness above the carotid artery. The carotid pulse (neck pulse) may also be pronounced.There are usually no additional symptoms.
People who have had carotidinium usually do not experience it again.
When to see a doctor
Any sudden, unexplained neck pain should be investigated by a doctor immediately. Other conditions can mimic the symptoms of carotidynia, including severe ones such asgiant cell arteritis(inflammation of the arterial wall).
Causes of carotidinium
The cause of carotidinium is unknown. It is also rare, affecting less than 3% of people with acute neck pain.
The diagnosis of carotidynia is often considered controversial because it can be difficult to decide whether acute neck pain is purely vascular (blood vessel related), muscular (muscle related), neurogenic (nerve related), or a combination of both.
That said, much of the current evidence points to itinflammationplays a key role in carotidinia. Inflammation, the body's natural response to threats such as infection or injury, is characterized by tissue swelling, pain, and warmth.
Some research suggests that the flow of blood from one larger vessel to two smaller vessels puts undue stress on the junction, causing the tissues to harden over time. If inflammation were to occur, the swelling of these hardened tissues could very well cause pain.
This is evidenced in part by the fact that carotidnia almost always affects adults over the age of 40, not younger people. Women are also more affected than men, possibly because their internal carotid artery is much smaller.
While carotidinium can occur unexpectedly, it is not uncommon for it to occur during a heart attack.migraine attackzexertion headache(headache caused by exercise). Both can cause blood vessels to swell, which in turn releases chemicals known as high blood pressure.cytokinesthat cause inflammation. More research is needed on this topic.
Carotidia diagnosis
There are no tests or procedures that can diagnose carotidine. The diagnosis is made after all other causes have been ruled out. Doctors sometimes call this a "diagnosis of exclusion."Getting these tests is important because they can make sure other, more serious conditions are not present.
Diagnosis of carotidinnia may include:
- Physical exam withpalpation(where the neck is physically touched)
- Acomplete blood count (CBC)to check for infection or disease
- C-reactive protein (CRP)Werythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)blood tests to look for signs of inflammation
- Imaging studies asmagnetic resonance angiography,angiogram CT, zHead and neck ultrasoundto control blood flow through the carotid artery
Other diagnoses to consider
Among the many conditions that health professionals need to rule out in theirdifferential diagnosiscarotidynia to:
- bruxism(teeth grinding)
- Temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ).
- Otitis(ear infection)
- Pharyngitis(pharyngitis)
- Migraines and other vascular headaches
- massive arterial disease
- muscle contracture(muscle contracture)
- from nerwo(from nerwo)
How is carotidine treated?
There are no specific treatments for carotidinia. People usually make a full recovery without any long-term problems. The pain usually starts to go away within a week, but it can take up to 14 days for some people.
Available for freenon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)asAleve (naproxen)WAdvil (ibuprofen)can be helpful in relieving pain.
so-called drugscalcium antagonistMedications used to lower high blood pressure have also been shown to be beneficial in people with prolonged episodes.
In some cases, oral steroid medications such asprednisonehave been used when the underlying inflammation is persistent or extreme. These drugs should not be taken for a long time because of the high riskside effects.
When carotinia occurs in people with migraine, the normmigraine treatmentto be able to help.
Carotidinia predictions
Fortunately, carotidine usually goes away on its own. There is no specific treatment, but symptoms can be treated with medication until they resolve.
Restore
Carotidynia is a rare pain syndrome that affects the carotid artery. The cause is unknown. People with this condition experience sudden pain on one side of the neck. The pain appears above the carotid artery, but it can also radiate to the face.
The diagnosis is made after other conditions have been ruled out. A physical examination, imaging tests, and blood tests can help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis.
Carotidinia usually begins to improve within a week. There is no standard treatment for this syndrome, but the symptoms can be controlled with medication.
very good word
Carotidynia is not considered a serious medical condition, but that doesn't mean you should ignore the signs and symptoms.
Any sudden headache or neck pain should be considered a concern, especially if the cause is unknown, symptoms persist, or recurring episodes. Such pain is not considered normal in any of these conditions, even if the symptoms are mild or manageable.
See a doctor, even if it's just for your peace of mind.
Frequently asked questions
Does the coronavirus cause carotidine?
COVID-19 is known to cause vasculitis, which according to research can cause carotidinium.
Can carotinia cause a stroke?
There are several case studies of people believed to have had a carotidinnia-related stroke, but more research is needed.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. read ourpublishing processfor more information on how we fact-check and ensure our content is accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
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Aronson, J.KSelective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). W:Meyler side effects. Elsevier; 2016: 317-337. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-53717-1.01440-2
Policha A, Williams D, Adelman M, Veith F, Cayne NS.idiopathic carotidine.endovascular surgery. 2017;51(3):149-151. doi:10.1177/1538574417697212
Del Conde I, Baumann F.carotid artery.Basque honey. 2016;21(1):73-4. doi:10.1177/1358863X15599602
Kamalian S, Avery L, Lev MH, Schaefer PW, Curtin HD, Kamalian S.Non-traumatic head and neck situations.x-rays. 2019;39(6):1808-1823. doi:10.1148/rg.2019190159
Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine.massive arterial disease.
Lecler A, Obadiah M, Savatovsky J et al. TYPICAL TEAM:Beyond the carotidinian myth, a new, separate, unclassified entity.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2017;38(7):1391-1398. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A5214
Mathangasinghe Y, Karunarathne RU, Liyanage UA.Transient perivascular carotid arteritis; a rare cause of severe neck pain.BJR sales representative. 2019;5(4):20190014. doi:10.1259/bjrcr.20190014
Jud P, Kangler G, Gresenberger P, Porugaler RH, Brodmann M.Month 3 Images: Transient perivascular inflammation of the carotid artery syndrome.Clin Med (London).July 2021; 21(4): e412–3. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2021-0349
Kamalian S, Avery L, Lev MH, Schaefer PW, Curtin HD, Kamalian S.Non-traumatic head and neck situations.x-rays. 2019;39(6):1808-1823. doi:10.1148/rg.2019190159
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Neck pain.
Yamaguchi Y, Hayakawa M, Kinoshita N, Yokota C, Ishihara T, Toyoda K.Carotidin embolic stroke possibly related to carotid artery movement due to swallowing.Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disease. 2018;27(3). doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebvasdis.2017.10.008
further reading
Comacchio F, Bottin R, Brescia G i in.Carotidynia: new aspects of a controversial entity.Ital Otorhinolaryngology Act. 2012;32(4):266-9.
Lecler A, Obadja M, Savatovsky J i in.TIPIC Syndrome: beyond the carotidinian myth, a new unclassified distinct entity.Neuroradiol Bena J. 2017;38(7):1391-1398. doi:10.3174/ajnr.a5214
Policha A, Williams D, Adelman M, Veith F, Cayne NS.idiopathic carotidine.Chirurgia Vasc Endovasc. 2017;51(3):149-151. doi:10.1177/1538574417697212
PuertaAbby Normando
Abby Norman is a freelance science writer and medical editor. She is also the author of Ask Me About My Uterus: The Quest to Convince Doctors About Women's Pain.
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