Aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms of the superficial temporal artery caused by trauma

Abstract

Superficial temporal artery (STA) aneurysms as a result of trauma represent less than 1% of reported aneurysms. During the past 200 years only the type of trauma and the preferred treatment have significantly changed. Patients are generally young men with a recent history of blunt head trauma. They may complain of a mass, headache, or other vague symptoms. Neurologic defects are rare; however, if a neurologic deficit exists, the physician should consider either arteriography or a head CT scan to search for intracranial pathologic conditions. In most cases the diagnosis may be made by obtaining a complete history and physical examination. The treatment of choice is ligation and resection, which may be accomplished with the patient under local or general anesthesia. In rare instances, arteriography with selective embolization may be useful when the traumatic aneurysm is complicated by severe facial trauma. Three cases of STA aneurysms are presented. The history, pathophysiology, origin, presentation, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment of STA aneurysms are reviewed.

Spontaneous Giant Aneurysm of the Superficial Temporal Artery -Case Report-

“…4) Traumatic STA aneurysm usually develops in young adult men at 2 to 6 weeks after blunt head trauma, 11) and the majority are pseudoaneurysms. Spontaneous or non-traumatic STA aneurysms are quite rare, with only 16 cases described.…”

Spontaneously arising superficial temporal artery aneurysms: a report of two cases and review of the literature

“…Approximately 80% occur in men usually aged 20-40 years. 3 A review of STA aneurysms by Peick et al 3 found that of 174 cases, 90% were caused by trauma. Uchida and Sakuma 4 found only 9 cases (18.8%) were true aneurysms with only single cases of congenital, arterial dissection, and atherosclerotic aneurysms.…”

Post Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Occipital Artery: A Rare Entity

“…In fact, as many as 20% of patients present anywhere from 6 months to 4 years after their injury. 13 In view of the variability in the time to presentation, a thorough history is important. As in our case, traumatic pseudoaneurysms can be easily misdiagnosed, particularly if they present with skin discoloration and are tender to palpation.…”