title: Traumatic pseudoaneurysms of the superficial temporal artery: case series, anatomy, and multidisciplinary treatment considerations.
abstract: Pseudoaneurysms of the superficial temporal artery (STA) are rare vascular lesions of the external carotid artery system and are most often incurred after blunt head trauma. Diagnosis can be made on clinical grounds, and is confirmed by ultrasonography (US) or CT angiography. Surgical ligation and excision of the aneurysm remains a definitive treatment modality. Patients with STA pseudoaneurysms are often referred to a neurovascular specialist given the neurovascular origin and gross anatomic location of these lesions. Three patients presented to our neurovascular service several weeks following blunt head injury to the anterolateral skull surface with progressive, palpable, pulsatile masses. Each patient underwent CT angiography, which demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm of the frontal branch of the STA, followed by operative ligation and en bloc excision. The present series highlights the anatomical considerations relevant to STA injury and pseudoaneurysm formation following blunt head trauma and reviews the necessary diagnostic and treatment considerations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, ACC-745, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: cstapleton@partners.org.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Stapleton
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Ajith J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Toshiba Stroke Research Center, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University at Buffalo, State University of New York and Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital, Kaleida Health, Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Radiology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Elad I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ogilvy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Blunt head injury; Embolization; Neurosurgery; Pseudoaneurysm; Superficial temporal artery