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By Mr. James M Williamson , Mr. David B Hocken
Corresponding Author Mr. James M Williamson
Department of General Surgery, The Great Western Hospital, Marlborough road, Swindon - United Kingdom SN3 6BB
Submitting Author Mr. James M Williamson
Other Authors Mr. David B Hocken
Department of General Surgery, The Great Western Hospital, Marlborough road, Swindon - United Kingdom SN3 6BB

VASCULAR SURGERY

Aneurysm, Superficial Temporal Artery, Trauma

Williamson JM, Hocken DB. Traumatic True Aneurysm of the Superficial Temporal Artery. WebmedCentral VASCULAR SURGERY 2011;2(3):WMC001722
doi: 10.9754/journal.wmc.2011.001722
No
Submitted on: 17 Mar 2011 10:03:36 AM GMT
Published on: 18 Mar 2011 02:41:18 PM GMT

Brief Report


A 40-year old male rugby player presented with a over his left eyebrow. He developed a lump after clashing heads (with another player) during training some 4 weeks previously. He was otherwise well, but complained of continuing pain in the region. Of note, he had had a previous excision of a traumatic temporal artery on the right hand side 8-years previously. Examination findings confirmed the presence of a 1cm soft pulsitile swelling consistent with a traumatic aneurysm. Duplex ultrasound revealed an aneurismal (3mm diameter) section of the left superficial temporal artery (figure 1).
A linear incision over the left temporal region identified the aneurismal section of artery (figure 2). The patient underwent a successful ligation and excision of the aneurismal section under local anaesthetic. Histological examination revealed a true aneurysm, with no break in the vessel wall and regenerative vascular proliferation.

Discussion


Aneurysms to the superficial temporal artery are uncommon, but most are associated with blunt trauma [1-2]. The majority are true aneurysms, which involve all three layers of the vessel wall [2]. False aneurysms are associated with rupture of the vessel wall and associated haematoma, and occur in
Doppler ultrasound provides the mainstay of investigation, but skull x-rays (to assess for associated fracture) and arteriography have also been utilised [1-2]. Definitive treatment, to prevent rupture and improve cosmesis, is usually in the form of operative ligation and excision of the aneurysm (under local anaesthesia) [1-2]. Selective catherterization and embolisation of the superficial temporal artery may also be used to treat the aneurysm [1-2].
This case illustrates the typical presentation and management of a traumatic superficial temporal artery aneurysm.

References


1: Peick AL, Nichols K, Curtis JJ Silver D. Aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms of the superficial temporal artery caused by trauma. Journal of vascular surgery 1988;8(5):606-610
2: Weller CB, Reeder C. Traumatic psuedoaneurysm of the superficial temporal artery: two cases. JAOA 2001;101(5):284-287

Source(s) of Funding


None

Competing Interests


None

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