Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult age (≥18 years); * Presence of a dissection of one or more cervical arteries (carotid or vertebrobasilar district), defined as the finding, on an appropriate radiological examination (CT and/or MRI of the neck and brain district with/without contrast medium and/or digital subtraction angiography and/or echocolordoppler of the epiaortic vessels) of "intramural hematoma, pseudoaneurysmal dilation, intimal flap, double lumen, long tapering stenosis or occlusion ≥2 cm above the carotid bifurcation with finding of an aneurysmal dilation or a long tapering stenosis after recanalization of the vessel"; * At least one or more of the following criteria: * Radiological evidence on CT and/or MRI with/without contrast and/or digital subtraction angiography and/or color Doppler ultrasound of vessel wall anomalies (such as aneurysms, dissections, tortuosity, ectasia or vascular stenosis) in one or more vascular districts in addition to that of the known dissection; * Family history of: * vessel dissections and/or sudden death and/or cerebrovascular or cardiovascular diseases at a young age; * spontaneous perforation of internal organs and/or dehiscence and/or laxity of connective tissue (spontaneous prolapses); * dysmorphological abnormalities at the clinical examination (including Beighton score ≥5 or Marfan score ≥7), laboratory and/or radiological findings suggestive of connective tissue disease or other genetic condition known to be associated with the development of aneurysms or alterations of the vessel wall; * Written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Recent history of trauma clearly related in type, location and dynamics to the development of dissection; * Iatrogenic dissection following endovascular procedure; * Exclusively intracranial dissection; * Fibromuscular dysplasia.