A Case Report of Posttraumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Superficial Temporal Artery

ABSTRACT

Posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the superficial temporal artery is very rare and occurs secondary to trauma. Clinical diagnosis is based on past history of trauma and physical examination and can be confirmed by duplex ultrasonogram, digital subtraction angiography, CT and MRI. Ligation of proximal and distal ends of the superficial temporal artery and excision of the pseudoaneurysm has been the standard treatment. Compressive therapy, endovascular coil embolization, percutaneous thrombin injection under ultrasound guidance have been reported as alternative treatment methods. When surgical excision of the superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysm is performed, surgeon must be concerned about the anatomical relation between superficial temporal artery and temporal branches of the facial nerve. In this article, we report a rare case of superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysm with some review of the literatures about anatomical relation between superficial temporal artery and temporal branches of facial nerve.