Improvements in Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis by Sinusitis Following Treatment of Sphenoid Sinusitis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

The patient was a 36-year-old woman in the 34th week of pregnancy who presented with headache. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed bilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and inflammatory changes in the sphenoid sinus. No cerebral infarction was detected on diffusion-weighted magnetic MRI. She was diagnosed with ICA stenosis induced by sphenoid sinusitis and underwent surgical treatment with intravenous antibiotics and corticosteroids. Her headache improved, and MRI showed remarkable improvement in bilateral ICA stenosis and no cerebral infarction. Severe sinusitis can also cause ICA stenoses. An early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of causative sinusitis can improve ICA stenosis and prevent stroke.