Internal carotid artery hypoplasia: A case report

Abstract

The internal carotid artery hypoplasia is a rare congenital anomaly that results in a diffuse narrowing of the arterial lumen, affecting the internal carotid artery from 1 to 2 centimeters above the bifurcation, continuing cranially. When clinically symptomatic, it can lead to cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage. This anomaly is often associated with some circle of Willis’ variations, increased intracranial aneurysm incidence, and an extensive compensation network of collateral vessels due to the decreased carotid flow. We report the case of a 59-year-old female patient with nonspecific complaints, whose investigations revealed unilateral hypoplasia of the left internal carotid artery.