Unsuspected Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Internal Carotid Artery

Peripheral arterial aneurysms may be true aneurysms, a dilation of the lumen lined by the remnants of the stretched arterial wall, or a false aneurysm (pseudoaneurysm), a penetration of the luminal wall with contained flow external to the vessel. Pseudoaneurysms are typically a result of blunt or penetrating arterial trauma, which includes a variety of iatrogenic injuries. This case report describes a traumatic psuedoaneurysm of the left internal carotid artery that occurred after a fall resulting in hyperextension of the neck. The psuedoaneurysm was undetected for three months until a sonographic examination for persistent neck pain showed the lesion. Endovascular repair of the pseudoaneurysm was done without complications.