Sphenopalatine artery pseudoaneurysm masquerading as a second primary maxillary carcinoma

Maxillary sinus carcinomas usually present as a locally advanced disease at the time of diagnosis and it is extremely unusual to have a second primary maxillary carcinoma on the contralateral side after many years of completion of treatment of the first malignancy. We present here a case report of a sphenopalatine artery (SPA) pseudoaneurysm mimicking the second primary maxillary carcinoma.

We reviewed the literature for SPA pseudoaneurysm.

This report describes the case of a 90-year-old man with a background of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the right maxillary sinus, diagnosed and treated with surgery and radiotherapy 14 years ago, who presented with a history of multiple episodes of epistaxis. The radiological evaluation showed a heterogeneously enhancing mass with a central hemorrhagic component and surrounding bony erosions in the left maxillary sinus and the patient was planned for biopsy from the suspicious mass along with SPA ligation. However, on opening the maxillary antrum there was excessive bleeding and it was determined unsafe to proceed further. The patient was subsequently taken to interventional radiology for diagnostic angiography which revealed an SPA pseudoaneurysm that was subsequently embolized successfully.

Sphenopalatine artery pseudoaneurysms should be considered as a differential for recurrent epistaxis in patients with a history of sinonasal malignancy. In such cases, endovascular embolization is a viable management option.