Anatomical Variation of the Common Carotid Artery in neck Dissection- Cervical carotid siphon

Abstract

Knowledge of incidence of morphological variations in the course and branching of the carotid arteries is important for radiological interpretation and surgical correction when they are symptomatic. Internal carotid artery (ICA) is known to show elongation in its extra cranial course. Previous studies have demonstrated the incidence and clinical symptoms of this morphological entity. However, the occurrence of elongation and looping of the common carotid artery (CCA) is seldom reported in the literature. During regular dissections, we came across a rare case of unilateral morphological variation of common carotid artery, in a female cadaver aged about 55 years. CCA presented a pronounced kinking or coiling, 2 cm above the origin of CCA.