Improving the recognition of cervical arterial dissection in clinical practice: investigation of a five criteria diagnostic support tool

ABSTRACT

Background

Cervical arterial dissection (CeAD) is a serious condition that can mimic a musculoskeletal condition. A diagnostic tool using five key criteria could help prompt early medical referral, but these criteria may occur in healthy people or benign neck pain/headache.

Objective

To determine the frequency of CeAD criteria in healthy individuals and those with neck pain/headache, and identify refinements needed to improve specificity.

Methods

An interview and neurological screen to identify the presence of the five criteria was conducted. Definitions were refined and the frequency of the modified criteria in each individual was determined. The criteria were re-administered using data from 37 CeAD cases of the derivation cohort, to examine how the modifications impact sensitivity of the tool.

Results

One hundred healthy and 20 participants with neck pain/headache were interviewed. Most participants had ≤ 2 criteria, mainly age or trauma, 3% had 3 criteria, but had migraine or resolving symptoms. None had >3. Modifications to definitions were needed to improve potential specificity of the tool (96.7%). Changes did not impact sensitivity of the tool (81%). Further refinements may be required.

Conclusions

Strictly defined CeAD criteria may assist in identifying when to refer, when to wait and monitor, or when management can proceed. Trialing the tool in those with migraine and in emergency departments to calculate risk scores is recommended.

KEYWORDS:

• Cervical dissection
• headache
• neck pain
• risk factors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

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Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.