Pseudoaneurysm of a lateral internal carotid artery in the middle ear

We report a case where a 7-year-old girl suffered significant aural bleeding following myringotomy of the tympanic membrane. Investigations by computed tomography scan, carotid angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography showed a lateral aberrant internal carotid artery (LACI) with a little pseudoaneurysm in the middle ear. The anomaly of the internal carotid artery was supposed to be congenital, and the pseudoaneurysm was supposed to be traumatic, formed after incision into the wall of the artery. Considerations about diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment are discussed. The patient was treated by balloon embolization in the internal carotid artery without sequelae. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.