Traumatic aneurysms of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery

This paper describes two patients with traumatic aneurysms of the supraclinoid internal carotid artery, which occurred after a closed-head injury and without demonstrable basal skull fracture. In the first case, the traumatic origin of the aneurysm was demonstrated by repeat angiograms. The second case documents the formation of a giant, traumatic, true aneurysm of the supraclinoid carotid artery over a period of less than 2 months; there was an associated traumatic partial occlusion of the vessel proximal to the aneurysm. The mechanisms of injury of the supraclinoid carotid artery are discussed.