Internal carotid artery dissection represents a rare cause of ischemic stroke and its pathogenesis remains unknown. Yet a probable contributing mechanism is infection-mediated damage to the arterial wall. We present two cases of unilateral and bilateral internal carotid artery dissection preceded by a pharyngitis and by a flu-like syndrome respectively. Both patients were investigated by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and angiography, echo-color Doppler and transcranial Doppler. We emphasize the pivotal role of MRI and ultrasound in the diagnosis and follow-up of acute internal carotid artery dissection and suggest that an infection may act as a triggering factor.
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