Spontaneous Thrombosis of the Internal Carotid Artery in Children

Summary Two cases of internal carotid artery thrombosis in apparently healthy girls were reported. The first case died of massive encephalomalacia and was demonstrated to have widespread occlusion of the circle of Willis and the distal segments of the bilateral internal carotid artery. Since histological changes characterized by numerous thick intimal plaques were similar to those which occur during infectious diseases, it was suspected that chronic tuberculosis or otitis media which were revealed at autopsy might be responsible for the pathogenetic processes. The second case survived with a residual hemiparesis and dysphagia. No convincing etiological factor was found.