A spontaneous superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysm possibly related to atherosclerosis: Case report and review of literature

Abstract

Background:

Spontaneous superficial temporal artery (STA) pseudoaneurysms are very rare; only four cases, including ours, have been reported to date. Therefore, the cause of them has not been studied.

Case Description:

A 57-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a pulsatile mass in the left preauricular region. Her medical history included hypertension, dyslipidemia, and angina pectoris. She denied a history of head injury or minor head trauma. Three-dimensional computed tomography angiography showed a well-enhanced saccular aneurysm on the main trunk of the STA. To prevent rupture it was removed surgically. The histological diagnosis was pseudoaneurysm with atherosclerosis. By the 2 ^nd postoperative day, she had completely recovered and was discharged home. There has been no relapse.

Conclusions:

As all four documented patients were at high risk for atherosclerosis, we posit that a causal factor was weakening of the arterial wall due to atherosclerosis and chronic pressure on the STA from anatomical structures. Here, we present histological evidence to support this hypothesis.