Case report of fibromuscular dysplasia presenting as stroke in a 16-year-old boy

Fibromuscular dysplasia of the carotid artery is uncommon, but not rare. Although the true incidence and prevalence of the disease are not known, reported figures in adults range between 0.6 % by angiography and 1.1 % at autopsy. Most case reports of stroke caused by carotid fibromuscular dysplasia describe findings in adult subjects, although there are a few reports of the disease in children. In the present case, we describe a 16-year-old boy with fibromuscular dysplasia con-fined to one internal carotid artery and its branches, and in whom the disease declared itself by stroke. This case serves as a basis for considering diagnostic methods, treatment options, and future research in pediatric patients with cere-brovascular disease caused by fibromuscular dysplasia. (J Child Neurol 1999;14:233-238). CASE REPORT J.T. was a 162h2-year-old, right-handed Caucasian boy in his usual state of good health until December 29, 1996. At that time, he was playing touch football outdoors with his brother. The patient bent over to pick up the football, and arose complaining of the sudden onset of left occipitoparietal head pain. The pain was followed rapidly by the onset of paresthesia of the right arm. Shortly there