[Cervical and intracranial artery dissections].

Cervical and intracranial artery dissections result from the occurrence of an intramural hematoma. Arterial dissection is one of the main causes of ischemic stroke in young adults. Pathophysiology remains misunderstood but probably results from the association of a triggering environmental factor with an underlying arteriopathy. Usually, headache or neck pain, sometimes associated with local signs (e.g., Horner's sign) occurs after a trivial trauma, followed some hours or days later by cerebral infarct. Diagnosis may be confirmed by CT-scan or MRI with angiogram. In the absence of randomized studies, acute treatment of cervical artery dissection is based on antithrombotics. IV thrombolysis is recommended in acute stroke. Outcome is favorable in most cases, related to infarct severity. Recurrences are very rare.