Carotid web causing ischemic stroke in a young woman: a case report with literature review

Background. An atypical variant of fibromuscular dysplasia, the carotid web appears as a thin, linear membrane protruding from the posterior wall into the lumen of the proximal internal carotid artery. Case presentation. We report the case of a 43-year-old woman who presented with an ischemic stroke caused by a carotid web. Multiple imaging modalities were utilized to identify the distinct features of this condition. The patient underwent mechanical thrombectomy and was discharged after two weeks on dual antiplatelet therapy. One month later, she was readmitted with improved motor deficits and no new symptoms and subsequently underwent carotid endarterectomy without complications. Conclusion. This case contributes to the current literature by emphasizing the importance of early recognition of carotid web through multimodal imaging and the role of timely surgical intervention as an effective form of secondary stroke prevention. It also offers valuable insight into clinical outcomes three months post-endarterectomy.