Resolution of Carotid Artery Stenosis After Medical Treatment: Case Report

A 61-year-old man presented wtih right-sided hemiparesis due to stenosis of the cervical internal carotid artery. He was conservatively treated by antiplatelet therapy and dietary management because of high-positioned stenosis, which is surgically hard to access, and because of rapid improvement of the symptoms. Reevaluation 9 months after the first angiography demonstrated complete disappearance of the carotid stenosis and resolution of the symptoms. The observation, though rare, in this case emphasizes the efficacy of antiplatelet therapy combined with dietary management for atherosclerotic disease. We discuss the mechanism of resolution of carotid stenosis.