Cervical Artery Dissection Can Be Easily Missed in Older Patients

In contrast to younger patients, those 60 or older rarely report pain or mechanical triggers, raising risk for overlooked diagnoses.

Although generally uncommon, cervical artery dissection (CeAD) is a major cause of stroke in young adults, with most patients aged 40 to 50 at time of dissection. Reports of CeAD in older patients are few (and their clinical characteristics largely unknown), raising concern that older patients with CeAD may be missed if clinical understanding largely gained in younger CeAD patients is applied at diagnosis.

In a review of a multicenter European database, 2391 patients with CeAd were identified. In all, 177 (7.4%) were 60 or older; of these, 67.8% were male. Compared with patients younger than 60, those aged >60 were less likely to present with cervical pain (adjusted odds ratio, 0.47), headache (AOR, 0.58), or history of mechanical triggers (…

Reviewing Author

John C. Probasco, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research Support Genetech/Roche

Editorial BoardsThe Neurohospitalist

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNeurohospitalist Society (President; Chair, Research Subcommittee)

John C. Probasco, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research Support Genetech/Roche

Editorial BoardsThe Neurohospitalist

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNeurohospitalist Society (President; Chair, Research Subcommittee)

Cervical Artery Dissection Can Be Easily Missed in Older Patients

Topics

Reviewing Author