Double or nothing: red flag symptoms of critical carotid stenosis, a case report

BMC Neurol. 2017 Apr 5;17(1):69. doi: 10.1186/s12883-017-0849-7.

Abstract

Background: Detailed knowledge of every possible manifestation of Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) disease is important. For improving detection and a timely adoption of secondary prevention procedures or treatments. Transient oculomotor nerve palsies have been described associated with stenosis or occlusion of the ICA.

Case presentation: We described a patient that develop a sequential combination of transient monocular loss of vision followed by binocular diplopia secondary to an unstable atherosclerotic preocclusive stenosis of an internal carotid artery previously treated with radiotherapy.

Conclusions: The peculiar sequence of transient monocular vision that give rise later into a transient binocular diplopia (double or nothing) should be kept in mind as a possible manifestation of critical stenosis of ICA.

Keywords: Amaurosis fugax; Case report; Cervical radiotherapy; Critical carotid stenosis; Double or nothing syndrome; Ocular motor palsy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carotid Artery Diseases / complications
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Carotid Artery, Internal / pathology*
  • Carotid Stenosis / complications
  • Carotid Stenosis / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Vision Disorders / etiology