Cervical carotid aneurysm presenting as recurrent cerebral ischemia with head turning

Extracranial carotid artery aneurysms are uncommon lesions with protean manifestations. This report describes a patient in whom the presenting symptom of a right carotid aneurysm was recurrent right hemisphere ischemic attacks when he turned his head to the left. The angiographic and operative findings explained the mechanism(s) of his symptoms. The importance of such symptoms is that they should suggest a mechanical etiology and that the probability of a surgically correctable lesion exists. Arteriography is the only reliable means of making a definitive diagnosis and should be considered early in the evaluation.