Acute Distal Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion in Which Angiography during Mechanical Thrombectomy Revealed a Shunt between the Internal Carotid Artery and the Cavernous Sinus: A Case Report

In the present case, angiographic visualization of the cavernous sinus varied depending on the site of contrast medium injection. It appears that the high pressure of the contrast medium generated in the stump of the ICA opened up microvascular shunts between the normal capillaries of the ICA and the cavernous sinus, leading to visualization of the cavernous sinus. Therefore, it is important to be aware that injection of contrast medium into the blind alley of the ICA near the cavernous sinus could result in early visualization of the cavernous sinus.