Pseudo-aneurysm of the external carotid artery: report of a case

The authors report a case of left otorrhagia in a 1-year-old male infant in the presence of a mass involving the parotideal and upper cervical regions, which had appeared after an infection of the upper airways. Non-invasive techniques, such as echography and CT scan, provided useful but contradicting information. Surgery allowed us to define the diagnosis of mycotic aneurysm of the external carotid artery. The authors, after pointing out the extreme rarity of such a pathology, discuss the ethiopathogenetic theories, the clinical features, the diagnosis and the surgical and medical treatment of the disease. Concerning surgery ligation of the external carotid artery is the treatment of choice, since distally the blood flow is provided by a conspicuous collateral circle and because a possible postoperative septic dissemination is avoided.