Spontaneous Isolated Celiac Artery Dissection in a Young Woman

Spontaneous isolated celiac artery dissection (SICAD) is a rare phenomenon with an unclear pathogenesis. It is more common in men, with a predilection for those in their 50s. A 39-year-old woman with epigastric and back pain visited our emergency department (ED). She had no cardiovascular risk factors. On her first visit to the ED, no signs of peritonitis were noted, and her vital signs were normal. Although a non-contrast abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan was performed, the cause of her abdominal pain remained unidentified. Due to persistent mild-to-severe pain, the patient visited our ED again the following day. Despite repeated blood tests showing no abnormalities, we considered that her abdominal pain was of vascular origin. We performed a contrast-enhanced CT scan, which revealed poor contrast enhancement in the celiac artery without intestinal ischemia. Based on the medical history and CT findings, the patient was diagnosed with SICAD. We consulted a cardiovascular surgeon who advised conservative management. The patient was discharged on the 10th day after admission, and no recurrence of abdominal pain was reported. SICAD is a rare but potentially serious condition that can also occur in younger women. While certain risk factors for SICAD have been identified, some young patients may not have traditional risk factors. Physicians should consider SICAD as a differential diagnosis even in young women when their abdominal pain is persistent without other organ-specific signs.