Carotidynia is pain associated with inflammation in the wall of the carotid artery. There is some controversy as to whether it is a distinct entity.
Synonym: Fay syndrome
Cause: some cases are associated with vasculitis but many are idiopathic
Common clinical features:
(1) neck pain, usually unilateral but occasionally bilateral. The pain radiates to the temporal and laryngeal regions
(2) headache
Less common findings:
(1) hoarseness
(2) difficulty swallowing
(3) syncope
Imaging studies show thickening of the carotid artery wall and/or contrast-enhanced signal surrounding the artery.
The patient shows a good response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids.
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Specialty: Otolaryngology
