Home > Medical Reference > Patient Education

Carotid dissection

Stroke is the loss of brain function due to blocked blood circulation to the brain. Strokes may be caused by an uncommon type of narrowing, obstruction, or leak in the lining of the carotid artery. This leaking of blood into the artery wall (dissection) may cause a clot to form, reducing blood flow and raising the risk of stroke. The leak may arise from an injury to the neck, which means strokes caused by carotid dissection may occur in young people as well as older people.

Reviewed last on: 2/19/2008
Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.