Sudden juvenile death: Simultaneous spontaneous dissection of the left extracranial internal carotid artery and the left common iliac artery

Abstract

Arterial spontaneous dissection is a pathological condition that recognises various causes, from hereditary diseases such as connective tissue diseases to traumatic events. Although the pathogenesis of arterial disease remains unknown in most cases, nevertheless, it is important to define possible causes.

We report on the case of a 19-year-old young man, smoker, who presented with a spontaneous dissection of the extracranial left internal carotid artery, and subsequently a spontaneous dissection and early rupture of the left common iliac artery which was the cause of death.

In our case, the histopathological findings at autopsy revealed features consistent with fibromuscular dysplasia, a rare non-atherosclerotic vascular disease that mainly involves medium-sized muscular arteries.