Kinking, coiling, and tortuosity of extracranial internal carotid artery: is it the effect of a metaplasia?

Introduction Morphological anomalies of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) cause symptomatic cerebrovascular insufficiency in 4–16% of the cases. The aim of the present study is to evaluate macroscopic and microscopic features of a group of extracranial ICA anomalies, specifically kinking, coiling, and tortuosity, eventually affecting the surgical approach.