[Case of spontaneous cervical internal carotid artery dissection with embolic stroke after a job-change]

A 51 year old male was admitted to our hospital with sudden consciousness disturbance, global aphagia and right hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed fresh infarctions in the territory of the left middle cerebral artery, and MR angiography (MRA) showed occlusion of the left carotid artery and the left middle cerebral artery. We started conservative therapy, including antiplatelet drug and blood pressure control. Three days later, cervical MRA revealed hematoma in the intracranial carotid wall of the petrous portion, leading to a diagnosis of spontaneous intracranial carotid artery dissection of the petrous portion. Two weeks after admission, MRA and angiography showed recanalization and pearl and string sign in the left petrous internal carotid artery. After that, the patient's neurological deficit improved, and the dissection also improved. Four months later, MR-angiography revealed an almost normalized condition.