Carotidynia: A Rare Diagnosis in Vascular Surgery Practice

Carotidynia is a rare diagnosis for unilateral neck pain without a clear physical substrate. As such, it may be encountered in surgery practice when analysing carotid artery status in symptomatic patients. Here, a case is presented which outlines the diagnostic process and subsequent treatment of carotidynia. As opposed to vascular causes of unilateral neck pain, carotidynia can be easily treated conservatively. Relief of complaints as well as regression of perivascular inflammation on magnetic resonance imaging can be effectively achieved with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.