Segmental arterial mediolysis

This article reports the case of a 51-year-old woman in whom brain MRI to follow up multiple sclerosis incidentally discovered an intramural hematoma in the extracranial internal carotid artery. MR angiography of the supra-aortic trunks and CT angiography of the aorta showed arterial dilations, aneurysms, dissections, and intramural hematomas in the internal carotid arteries, vertebral arteries, and arteries in the splanchnic territory. These findings raised suspicion of segmental arterial mediolysis. After 6 months of treatment with antiplatelet drugs, the arterial involvement resolved. Segmental arterial mediolysis is an uncommon disease; low clinical suspicion and radiologists' lack of knowledge about this entity mean that it can go undetected or be confused with other vasculitides. This report describes the most relevant pathophysiological findings and correlates them with the imaging findings.