Distal cervical internal carotid artery stenosis

This report describes a case of distal cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusive lesion managed by saphenous interposition vein graft after exposure of the ICA up to the skull base. The skull base approach described herein emphasizes the mobilization of the mandible without mandibular osteotomy or disarticulation. Instead, the stylomandibular and stylosphenoidal ligaments are resected to allow mandibular mobilization. In addition, the distal ICA lesion represented a form of diffuse intimal thickening without any plaque formation. This required the resection of the thickened, stenotic segment and reconstruction of the distal cervical ICA with a saphenous interposition graft. The surgical management implications of diffuse intimal thickening are discussed.