title: The pulsatile head mass, 'uncommon things are sometimes common'. A case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Superficial temporal artery aneurysms account for less than 1% of all reported aneurysms. It is often the result of mild blunt trauma to the side of the head and patients present several weeks later with a pulsatile head mass.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report two cases referred to surgery in a 3 month period, from the same GP, of patients which this condition. The first case is a 21 year old carpenter who sustained blunt trauma during a rugby match to the side of the head. He presented several weeks later with headache and an otherwise painless pulsatile mass. The second case refers to a 20 year old male who received blunt trauma to the side of head from an assault. He was referred to his GP due family observing a painless pulsatile mass to the scalp.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These cases highlight the relatively little force required to cause this pathological process. Management of this condition is by surgical excision. Simple examination techniques to obliterate the pulse locally can reveal the diagnosis. Subsequent literature search allowed discussion of the management of this rare but important differential diagnosis of a pulsatile head mass.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although rare, STA represents a complication of low energy trauma that requires elective surgical management.
authors.affiliation: Royal Free Hospital London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Staruch
authors.affiliation: Bristol NHS Trust, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sawyer
authors.affiliation: Heart of England NHS Trust, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ellabban
keywords: Aneurysm; STA; Superficial; Temporal