Extracranial internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm in a two-year-old child: case report

BACKGROUND: Extracranial internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm is very rare in children. METHOD: This paper discusses the case of a boy, aged two years and six months, who presented with an enlarging neck mass and unilateral bloody otorrhoea. Special investigations revealed an extracranial internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm. RESULTS: The patient made a full recovery after endovascular occlusion of the internal carotid artery and pseudoaneurysm using coils. At six months' follow up, the internal carotid artery and pseudoaneurysm remained excluded from the circulation. The patient did not display any neurological deficits during hospital stay or follow up. CONCLUSION: This paper reports on one of the youngest patients documented to date who presented with an internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm, possibly secondary to ear infection. Although rare, this condition should be excluded in children presenting with a mass of the neck or pharynx because of the dire consequences if left undiagnosed and untreated.