Most of the time, the diagnosis can be made upon a thorough history and a physical examination. History includes self-resolving episodes of unilateral or bilateral pain in the neck. The pain may radiate to the head. Signs of active infection such as chills, cervical lymphadenopathy, erythema, and ear or throat pain are remarkably absent.[17] Some patients develop the disorder after an upper respiratory tract infection, indicating that perhaps an immune reaction may have occurred.[18] 

Physical examination should include a thorough review of the ear, nose, and throat along with evaluating for lymphadenopathy in the head and neck. Furthermore, it is important to examine the thyroid for thyroid tenderness and to look for any masses that are pulsatile or non-pulsatile in the neck region. Physical examination typically reveals a point tenderness in the lateral neck over the carotid bifurcation. Palpation of the carotid artery can worsen the pain, leading the pain to radiate to the ipsilateral ear. A systolic carotid bruit might be appreciated in some cases.[17] 

Although most of the literature reports a normal neurological examination, a case series reported neurological events in 8 out of 47 patients recruited in the study.[17][3] Henceforth, the possibility of neurological implications of this entity cannot be entirely excluded at present. Furthermore, many patients report anxiety, which might be attributed to a delay in the definitive diagnosis, and a fear of more serious diagnoses like carotid artery dissection, and neoplasms of head and neck.[6][17][19]

Carotidynia has conventionally been a diagnosis of exclusion. Complete blood count (CBC), thyroid function tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are normal.

The diagnosis requires imaging evidence of the exclusion of other vascular and nonvascular causes of neck pain. Neck ultrasound (US) is recommended as the initial screening test and shows hypoechoic thickening, mild luminal narrowing, and outward extension of the carotid wall in the region of tenderness.[20][21] Since the wall thickening is eccentric, the blood flow through the lumen of the carotid artery is not disturbed.[22] This eccentric thickening is in contrast to the concentric thickening, calcification, and plaque appreciated in carotid artery atherosclerosis.

Computed tomography (CT) scan, digital subtraction arteriography, positron emission tomography (PET) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not recommended for routine evaluation, as these confer little additional benefit, and expose the patient to harmful radiation, magnetic field, and IV contrast agents.[22] These investigations should be ordered if the ultrasound is inconclusive or the diagnosis remains elusive. Some authors argue that if the patient is younger than 40 years of age, or presents with neurological deficits such as Horner's syndrome hinting at carotid artery dissection, a multidetector CT angiography (MDCTA) may be the initial diagnostic modality of choice.[23] A normal MDCTA can rule out carotid artery dissection. An MRI may be justified in older patients with a clinical presentation consistent with giant cell arteritis, especially if the ESR or CRP are elevated. In such cases, high-resolution images of superficial cranial vessels, such as superficial temporal artery must be sought. In cases where a recent use of corticosteroids might have decreased the inflammation and obscured the radiologic features, an MRI may be helpful in reaching a diagnosis.[24][25][26] Increased uptake or enhancement in T1-weighted images involving the distal common carotid artery (CCA) and carotid bulb enhanced with gadolinium is suggestive of carotidynia.[27]

Recently, PET scan has been utilized for the diagnosis of carotidynia, if the diagnosis remains elusive despite Doppler US, CT, and MRI of the neck. The PET scan demonstrates a focus of hypermetabolism of glucose in the region of carotid bifurcation in the absence of systemic vasculitis or pathologic changes in the carotid lumen. Although the finding of hypermetabolism of glucose is non-specific, the absence of a neck mass (ruling out cervical neoplasia as a cause of neck pain), the self-limiting clinical course of each episode, and immediate response to steroid treatment provide sufficient proof to diagnose carotidynia.[2][9] 

One of the characteristic features of carotidynia is the resolution of these changes on the follow-up imaging. A continued regression of the hypoechoic lesion of the carotid wall is appreciated on serial ultrasounds over the next few days. Other studies confirm a decrease in the maximum standard uptake volume (SUV) of 18F fluorodeoxyglucose activity in the repeat PET / CT after six months.[2] Such radiologic observation has led to the adoption of a new name for this entity of transient perivascular inflammation of the carotid artery (TIPIC) syndrome.[16][28][29]

Other potential tests to evaluate a patient for carotidynia include serum amyloid A and soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) levels, but their routine use is not recommended due to the lack of sufficient evidence of their utility from studies.[17] An equally important part of the diagnostic workup is aimed at excluding important differential diagnoses. A raised neutrophil count on CBC points towards possible infection such as sialadenitis, lymphadenitis, or peritonsillar abscess as a cause of the neck pain.[17] A significantly high ESR and CRP may warrant a temporal artery biopsy to evaluate for giant cell temporal arteritis. An abnormal TSH may indicate thyroiditis.

Since carotidynia is a self-limiting condition that spontaneously resolves with 7-14 days, the treatment is generally supportive. Initial treatment includes rest, reassurance, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or aspirin.[21][22][24][30][31][27] If symptoms persist, a short course of corticosteroids is usually prescribed.[27][32] The use of calcium channel blockers,  selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g., fluoxetine), and benzodiazepines have also been reported.[33][17]

In the past, antimigraine medications such as propranolol, tricyclic antidepressants, ergotamine, and methysergide were frequently used for the treatment of carotidynia. However, this trend decreased once carotidynia was removed from the International Classification of Headache disorders in 2004. In recent years, there is one case report which describes the efficacy of an antimigraine medication, almotriptan, in alleviating the symptoms of a patient diagnosed with carotidynia.[34] Furthermore, stress management can be helpful.[17]

Among vascular disorders, the two major differential diagnoses of lateral neck pain would be carotid dissection and giant cell arteritis. Carotid artery dissection is usually associated with neurological deficits, and Horner's syndrome comprising of ptosis, miosis, anhidrosis is present in about half the cases of carotid dissection.[35] On the contrary, neurological findings are absent in the vast majority of cases of carotidynia. Other possible diagnoses in a patient presenting with lateral neck pain are given below:

Table 1, adapted from Stanbro et al.[17]

Table 1. Differential diagnoses for unilateral neck pain related to the carotid artery[16][36][37]

Unilateral neck pain:

Infectious: Infections of the oropharynx, oral cavity, and glands (lymphadenitis, sialadenitis, peritonsillar abscess, and thyroiditis)

Neurological: Migraine headache, trigeminal neuralgia

Neoplastic: Head and neck neoplasms

Musculoskeletal: Cervical spondylitis, temporomandibular joint syndrome, Eagle syndrome

Pain isolated to the carotid artery:

Vascular: Carotid dissection, carotid body tumor, carotid aneurysm, fibromuscular dysplasia, acute carotid occlusion, large-vessel vasculitis

Owing to the rarity of this condition, no placebo-controlled trials have been arranged to compare the efficacy of various pharmacological interventions used for carotidynia.[17]

Each episode of carotidynia is self-limiting and lasts 7 to 14 days. The resolution of symptoms can be expedited by the use of NSAIDs and corticosteroids. However, patients experience a relapse of episodes every 1 to 6 months.

Although classically described as a self-limiting condition lasting about 7 to 14 days, recent studies have shown an association with carotid artery thrombosis and neurological events.[38] Due to the elusive nature of this entity, patients might be subjected to unnecessary invasive and noninvasive investigations, and therefore be exposed to high radiation of CT scans and strong magnetic fields of MRI.

If the diagnosis is confused with giant cell temporarily arteritis, patients might be subjected to a temporal artery biopsy, and experience possible biopsy related complications. Patients might also report anxiety at prolonged, expensive testing and lack of a definitive diagnosis. It is therefore recommended to accept carotidynia as a clinical entity so that patients can avoid the hazards of unnecessary testing.

Carotidynia is associated with anxiety in a number of patients. Patients should be reassured about the relatively benign nature of this condition, as compared to carotid artery dissection, giant cell temporal arteritis, and neck neoplasms. However, they should also be counseled that relapse of symptoms is not an uncommon occurrence, with the majority of patients experiencing a repeat episode within 1 to 6 months. The patients should be reviewed clinically and informed about the reoccurrence of carotidynia and that it is usually benign.[17]

Carotidynia or TIPIC syndrome, though rare, is underdiagnosed, and the cause for such pain remains hypothetical. Many reasons related to the autoimmune process, reaction to a drug, or an unknown inflammatory process are considered potential causes. It often presents with unilateral facial and neck pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication or aspirin are the drugs of choice, which may lead to symptom resolution within two weeks.[39]

Carotidynia is best managed with an interprofessional team approach. Early recognition of this rare entity is critical to protect patients from unnecessary and possibly harmful investigations. Clinicians must be educated to keep carotidynia in the list of differential diagnoses for lateral neck pain. The importance of a careful history and physical examination in patients with neck pain must not be underestimated, as these might be sufficient to exclude most of the differential diagnoses of neck pain and save patients from unnecessary investigations.