Superficial Temporal Artery Pseudoaneurysm Following Head Trauma from a Lacrosse Ball: A Case Report

Superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare vascular complication of blunt head trauma and may be overlooked due to delayed presentation and minimal initial findings.

A helmeted adolescent lacrosse player sustained blunt trauma to the right superolateral forehead after being struck by a lacrosse ball. He subsequently developed a progressively enlarging, pulsatile scalp mass. Point-of-care ultrasound demonstrated Doppler flow within the lesion, and further evaluation with ultrasound and computed tomography confirmed a pseudoaneurysm arising from the frontal branch of the superficial temporal artery. The patient underwent surgical excision and ligation of the affected vessel without complications.

Early recognition and appropriate imaging are essential for the diagnosis of superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysm and allow timely surgical management with excellent clinical outcomes.