Spontaneous thrombosis of internal carotid artery with occlusion of giant cavernous carotid aneurysm and malignant hemispheric infarct – Cure or curse?

Spontaneous thrombosis of giant intracranial aneurysm with parent artery occlusion is uncommon. We present an unusual case of a 28-year-old female who presented with a hemispheric infarct probably secondary to dissection of the cervical internal carotid artery (ICA). The cervical ICA occlusion simultaneously induced total thrombosis of pre-existing incidental giant cavernous ICA aneurysm. We discuss the various theories and probable mechanisms involved.