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A potentially catastrophic anatomical variation: aberrant internal carotid artery in the middle ear cavity

Togay Muderris1, Sami Bercin, Ergun Sevil

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Bilkent, 06800 Ankara, Turkey.

Case Reports in Otolaryngology
|April 23, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Aberrant internal carotid artery (ICA) is a rare vascular anomaly. Early diagnosis of this temporal bone condition is crucial for otologic surgeons to prevent severe complications during procedures.

Area of Science:

  • Vascular Surgery
  • Otolaryngology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Aberrant internal carotid artery (ICA) is a rare vascular anomaly.
  • Misdiagnosis can lead to severe complications during otologic procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a case of aberrant ICA.
  • To highlight the importance of recognizing this anomaly in otologic surgery.

Main Methods:

  • Case presentation of a patient with hearing loss.
  • Otoscopic examination revealing a tympanic membrane perforation and a retrotympanic mass.
  • Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • The aberrant ICA presented as a nonpulsatile middle ear mass.
  • MDCT provided excellent visualization of the temporal bone and aberrant ICA.
  • Diagnosis was confirmed in the presented case.

Conclusions:

  • Otolaryngologists must consider vascular anomalies like aberrant ICA.
  • Awareness of aberrant ICA is essential for preventing surgical complications.
  • MDCT is a valuable tool for diagnosing aberrant ICA.

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