[Carotid artery dissection].

Background: Internal carotid artery dissection is a cause of ischemic stroke, particularly in young patients, without known cerebro-vascular risk factors.
Methods: The authors describe the clinical and imagiological (CT scan, MRI and digital subtraction angiography) records of five patients admitted during a period of two months in the Stroke Unit of Hospital de S. José, with the diagnosis of internal carotid artery occlusion with probable dissection.
Comment: The clinical cases presented reflect the heterogeneity of clinical and imagiological presentation of carotid artery dissection.