AMONG the first to call attention to the occurrence of arterial thrombosis as an etiology of infantile and childhood hemiplegia was Gowers in 1888,1 Osler in 1889-1899,2 and Freud in 1897.3 Though the frequency is far less common in children than adults, a number of case reports and reviews have been published,4-20 particularly within the past 20 years.
In this report, we propose to consider briefly the general problem of arterial occlusive disease affecting the brain in children, with emphasis on occlusions within the cervical portion of the carotid system. Also, we will give an example of sudden, spontaneous occlusion of the cervical internal carotid artery due to a fresh, soft thrombus in a child in which early angiography, arteriotomy, and thrombectomy allowed restitution of flow.
Report of a Case
A 2-year-old white boy was admitted to St. Louis Children's Hospital approximately 12 hours after