What is Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm?
An extracranial carotid artery aneurysm (sometimes called a cervical carotid aneurysm) is a bulge or ballooning in one of the carotid arteries in the neck — the major blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your brain. Unlike aneurysms inside the skull, these occur in the part of the artery that runs through the neck. When the wall of the artery weakens, it can stretch outward and form a sac-like bulge. This bulge can grow over time and may cause serious problems if it ruptures or if blood clots form inside it and travel to the brain. Many people with this condition notice a pulsating lump on the side of their neck, or they may experience pain, difficulty swallowing, or a hoarse voice. In some cases, the aneurysm causes no symptoms at all and is found by accident during imaging for another reason. However, it can lead to a stroke if a clot breaks off and blocks blood flow to the brain. Treatment depends on the size of the aneurysm, your symptoms, and your overall health. Options include open surgery to repair or remove the aneurysm, or a less invasive procedure called endovascular repair, where a stent or coil is placed inside the artery through a small tube. Blood thinners may also be used to reduce clot risk. With proper treatment, many people do well, but close monitoring is always needed.
Key symptoms:
A pulsating or throbbing lump on the side of the neckNeck pain or tendernessDifficulty swallowingHoarse or changed voiceSudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body (sign of stroke)Sudden trouble speaking or understanding speechSudden vision problems in one or both eyesHeadacheRinging in the ears (tinnitus)Dizziness or lightheadednessFacial drooping or asymmetry
Clinical phenotype terms (28)— hover any for plain English
- AtherosclerosisHP:0002621
- Abnormal cranial nerve physiologyHP:0031910
- Thromboembolic strokeHP:0001727
- Subarachnoid hemorrhageHP:0002138
- ArteriosclerosisHP:0002634
- Cerebral ischemiaHP:0002637
- Abnormality of connective tissueHP:0003549
- Total anomalous pulmonary venous returnHP:0005160
- Inheritance
- Multifactorial
- Caused by a mix of several genes and environmental factors
- Age of Onset
- Adult
- Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
Treatments
Source: openFDA + DailyMed · NDA / BLA labels with structured indications · refreshed weekly
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm.
View clinical trials →Clinical Trials
View all trials with filters →Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced daily · phases, status, and PI names normalized at ingest
No actively recruiting trials found for Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm at this time.
New trials open frequently. Follow this disease to get notified.
Source: NPI Registry + PubMed · trial PI roles cross-referenced with ClinicalTrials.gov · ranked by match score (publications + PI activity + community signal)
Treatment Centers
8 centersSource: NORD Rare Disease Centers + NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) · centers verified active within last 12 months
Children's Hospital Colorado Rare Disease Program ↗
Children's Hospital Colorado
📍 Aurora, CO
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDBoston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program ↗
Boston Children's Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🏨 Children'sAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital Genetics ↗
Lurie Children's Hospital
📍 Chicago, IL
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏥 NORDCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ↗
Cincinnati Children's
📍 Cincinnati, OH
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🏨 Children'sNationwide Children's Hospital Rare Disease Center ↗
Nationwide Children's Hospital
📍 Columbus, OH
👤 Boston Children's Hospital Rare Disease Program
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm.
Community
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Start the conversation →Latest news about Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm
Source: PubMed + NIH RePORTER + openFDA + clinical-journal RSS · last 30 days · disease-tagged at ingest by AI extraction with human QC
No recent news articles for Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm.
Follow this condition to be notified when news becomes available.
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.How large is my aneurysm, and does it need treatment right away or can we monitor it?,What are the risks and benefits of surgery versus the endovascular (stent) approach for my specific case?,Should I be tested for an underlying connective tissue disorder like Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?,Do my close family members need to be screened for aneurysms?,What activities should I avoid, and when can I return to normal exercise or work?,How often will I need follow-up imaging, and what are we looking for?,What stroke warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they happen?
Common questions about Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm
What is Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm?
An extracranial carotid artery aneurysm (sometimes called a cervical carotid aneurysm) is a bulge or ballooning in one of the carotid arteries in the neck — the major blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your brain. Unlike aneurysms inside the skull, these occur in the part of the artery that runs through the neck. When the wall of the artery weakens, it can stretch outward and form a sac-like bulge. This bulge can grow over time and may cause serious problems if it ruptures or if blood clots form inside it and travel to the brain. Many people with this condition notice a pulsati
How is Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm inherited?
Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm follows a multifactorial inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm typically begin?
Typical onset of Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Which specialists treat Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm?
4 specialists and care centers treating Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.
Frequently asked questions about Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm
Auto-generated from canonical disease facts (Orphanet, OMIM, ClinicalTrials.gov, openFDA, NPPES). Not a substitute for clinical guidance.
What is Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm?
Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm is a rare disease catalogued in international rare-disease ontologies (Orphanet ORPHA:494424). It is typically inherited as multifactorial. Age of onset is generally adult. For verified primary sources, see the UniteRare Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm page.
How is Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm inherited?
Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm follows multifactorial inheritance. Genetic counseling is recommended for affected families to understand recurrence risk in offspring and the likelihood of unaffected siblings being carriers. Variants in the underlying gene(s) may be identified via clinical genetic testing.
Are there FDA-approved treatments for Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm?
Approved treatments for Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm are tracked from openFDA and DailyMed primary sources. Many rare diseases have no specific FDA-approved therapy; for those, supportive care and management of complications form the basis of clinical care. Orphan-drug-designation status is noted where applicable.
Are there clinical trials for Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm?
Active clinical trials for Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm are tracked daily from ClinicalTrials.gov. Trial availability changes frequently; check the UniteRare trial listings for the current count and recruitment status. Sponsors of rare-disease research often welcome inquiries even when a trial is not actively recruiting at a given moment.
How do I find a specialist for Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm?
UniteRare lists 4 verified clinicians with documented expertise in Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal-investigator records, PubMed publication histories, and the NPPES NPI registry. Filter by state or browse our state-specific specialist pages for nearby options.
See full Extracranial carotid artery aneurysm page for complete clinical details, sources, and verified-specialist listings.
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