Among the multiple causes for cranial nerve palsies, internal carotid artery dissection is rather uncommon. Patients usually present with unilateral head pain, Horner's syndrome, and signs of cerebral ischemia. We present the case of a 52-year-old male patient, who showed isolated palsies of the tenth and twelfth nerve without any other symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (T1) depicted a hyperintense lesion surrounding the internal carotid artery, which was mistaken for a cervical mass, and the patient underwent unnecessary surgical exploration of the neck. Angiography performed afterward could reveal the dissection of the internal carotid artery. This case shows that even in cases with mild and atypic symptoms, internal carotid artery dissection has always to be ruled out in lower cranial nerve palsies.
Keywords: Carotid artery; cranial nerve; dissection; palsy; radiology.