Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-5lx2p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-29T03:19:42.939Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Carotid Siphon: A Scanning Electron Microscope Assessment of its Embolie Potential

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

F.W. Saunders  and
P. Shedden
F.W. Saunders*
Affiliation:
Division of Neurological Surgery, Queen’s University, Kingston
P. Shedden
Affiliation:
Division of Neurological Surgery, Queen’s University, Kingston
*
Douglas III, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario K7L 2V7
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract:

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The role of the carotid siphon as a source of embolic material has had limited morphological or clinical study. The morphologic data available suggests that the siphon plays only a small role in embolic cerebrovascular disease. Clinical studies, however, suggest that it has a significant ischemic potential. To clarify this apparent discrepancy, we have designed a scanning electron microscope study of the carotid siphon. Eighty percent of the specimens from the carotid bifurcation and 30% of the siphon specimens showed evidence of damaged endothelium with attached red cell and platelet debris. The embolic potential of the siphon is estimated to be between ⅓ to ½ that of the carotid bifurcation. This supports the most recent clinical studies.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , August 1985 , pp. 263 - 266
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1985

References

REFERENCES

Barnett, HJM, Peerless, SJ (1981) Collaoraive EC/IC Bypass Study: The rational and a progress report. In Cerebrovascular Diseases, Moossy, J and Reinmuth, OM (Editors), Raven Press, New York, 271–288.Google Scholar
Blaisdell, WF, Clauss, RH, Galbraith, JGet al.(1969) Joint study on extracranial arterial occlusion, IV, A review of surgical considerations. JAMA 12: 209.Google Scholar
Cole, M, Davis, H (1963) Carotid siphon calcification. Brit J. Radiol. 36:289.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Craig, DR, Meguro, K, Watridge, C, Robertson, JT, Barnett, HJM, Fox, AJ (1982) Intracranial internal carotid artery stenosis. Stroke 13:825–828.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dujovny, MD, Kossovsky, N, Loubeau, JM, Nelson, D, McManus, G (1981) Scanning electron microscopic and x-ray energy spectrographic analysis of the inner surface of human atherosclerotic carotid plaques. Neurosurgery 8: 60–67.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fisher, CM, Gore, I, Okabe, N, White, PD (1965) Calcification of the carotid siphon. Circulation 32: 538–548.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hass, WK, Fields, WS, North, RRet al.(1968) Joint study of extracranial arterial occlusion. II. Arteriography, techniques, sites and complications. JAMA 203: 159–166.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hertzer, NR, Beven, EG, Benjamin, SP (1977) Ultramicroscopic ulcerations and thrombi of the carotid bifurcation. Arch. Surg. 112: 1394–1402.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Marzewski, DJ, Furlan, AJ, St. Louis, P, Little, JR, Modic, MT, Williams, G (1982) Intracranial internal carotid artery stenosis: Longterm prognosis. Stroke 13: 821–824.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moossy, John (1966) Morphology, sites and epidemiology of cerebral atherosclerosis. In Cerebrovascular Disease. Ass. Res. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 41:1.Google ScholarPubMed
Roedeer, GO, Langlois, YE, Chan, ARW, Chikos, PM, Thiele, BL, Strandness, DE. (1983) Is siphon disease important in predicting outcome of carotid endarterectomy? Arch. Surg 118: 1177–1181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar