Twelve cases of fatal cerebral infarction due to arterial occlusion in the absence of atheromatous stenosis or embolism.

Abstract

Fatal cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of a carotid artery or 1 of its main branches is described in 12 cases; a cause for thrombosis was established after death in only 4 cases. None of the cases studied had atheromatous stenosis or embolism, therefore other factors must contribute to thrombic occlusion of intracranial or extracranial cerebral arteries, especially in the younger age group. In each case, the large infarct acted like an acute expanding lesion in the cerebral hemisphere. The brain became distorted and intracranial pressure increased. Atheromatous stenosis is of importance in the pathogenesis of cerebral infarction, other factors may lead to occlusion of a major cerebral artery by thrombus.