Endarterectomy for atheromatous hypoglossal artery. Case report

A 57-year-old white man developed transient ischemic symptoms of the posterior circulation in August, 1981. Serial arteriography revealed stenosis of a large right hypoglossal artery which narrowed from 50% to 90% after only 2 months. The hypoglossal artery occurs in the 4-mm human embryo, normally from Days 21 to 26 of gestation. This is the first reported case of hypoglossal endarterectomy.