title: Post-operative delayed bleeding from the superficial temporal artery.
abstract: We present three patients who experienced late, severe bleeding from the superficial temporal artery (STA) following uncomplicated removal of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) from the temple. This is a common site for BCC and the risk of damage to the temporal branch of the facial nerve and the STA are well known. However, delayed bleeding as described in these individuals is potentially dangerous but poorly reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK. birnie@doctors.net.uk
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Birnie
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: P J A
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Colver
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000293:injuries*; D016896:Treatment Outcome