Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the external carotid artery with parotid mass and delayed facial nerve palsy

• Published in: Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery 1999-07, Vol.121 (1), p.158-160
• Main Authors: RHEE, CHAE-SEO, JINN, TAE-HOON, JUNG, HA-WON, SUNG, MYUNG-WHUN, KIM, KWANG HYUN, MIN, YANG-GI
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aneurysm, False - diagnostic imaging; Aneurysm, False - etiology; Carotid Artery Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery Diseases - etiology; Carotid Artery, Common - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery, External; Facial Injuries - complications; Facial Paralysis - etiology; Humans; Male; Parotid Diseases - etiology; Radiography; Time Factors; Wounds, Stab - complications
• ISSN: 0194-5998; 1097-6817
• DOI: 10.1016/S0194-5998(99)70147-6

Pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication after trauma. A true aneurysm is a dilatation of the vessel wall, whereas a pseudoaneurysm is a weakening or rent in a vessel wall with contained rupture into the surrounding tissues. The cause of a true aneurysm is often an arteriosclerotic or inflammatory process and congenital malformations. Pseudoaneurysms are usually posttraumatic. 1 Causes of pseudoaneurysm of the carotid artery include deep neck infection, 2 blunt or penetrating trauma of the cervicofacial region, 3 , 4 and radiation therapy. 5 Injury to the carotid artery, by either direct or indirect forces, is rare but may produce either dissection of the vessel wall or formation of a pseudoaneurysm. Although pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporal artery after trauma has been reported 6 occasionally, traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the external carotid artery between the internal maxillary and facial arteries associated with a parotid mass and subsequent facial palsy is an uncommon event.