Carotid blowout syndrome is a devastating complication in head and neck cancer patients that is attributed to multifocal, iatrogenic arteriopathy following radical surgery or irradiation. Pseudoaneurysms of the carotid artery or its small branches are the most frequently recognized of these vascular lesions. We present a case of a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the superior thyroid artery that was probably induced by radiation vasculopathy and was successfully treated by embolization therapy.
ChaloupkaJCRothTCPutmanCM. Recurrent carotid blowout syndrome: Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in a newly recognized subgroup of patients. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol1999;20:1069–77.
2.
KremplGANoorilyAD. Pseudoaneurysm of the descending palatine artery presenting as epistaxis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1996;114:453–6.
3.
CohenSAnastassovGEChuangSK. Posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the sphenopalatine artery presenting as persistent epistaxis: Diagnosis and management. J Trauma1999;47: 396–9.
4.
RheeCSJinnTHJungHWSungMWKimKHMinYG. Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the external carotid artery with parotid mass and delayed facial nerve palsy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1999;121:158–60.
5.
KarasDESawinRSSieKC. Pseudoaneurysm of the external carotid artery after tonsillectomy. A rare complication. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1997;123:345–7.
6.
CockroftKMCarewJFTrostDFraserRA. Delayed epistaxis resulting from external carotid artery injury requiring embolization: A rare complication of transsphenoidal surgery: Case report. Neurosurgery2000;47:236–9.
7.
UguzMOnalKOncelS. Giant external carotid artery pseudoaneurysm presenting as a parotid mass. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg2000;122:307–9.
8.
RockmanCBRilesTSFisherFSAdelmanMALamparelloPJ. The surgical management of carotid artery stenosis in patients with previous neck irradiation. Am J Surg1996; 172: 191–5.
9.
YuenJCGrayDJ. Endovascular treatment of a pseudoaneurysm of a recipient external carotid artery following radiation and free tissue transfer. Ann Plast Surg2000;44:656–9.
10.
FonkalsrudEWSanchezMZerubavelRMahoneyA. Serial changes in arterial structure following radiation therapy. Surg Gynecol Obstet1977;145:395–400.
11.
O'ConnorMMMaybergMR. Effects of radiation on cerebral vasculature: A review. Neurosurgery2000;46:138–51.
12.
MinionDJLynchTGBaxterBTLiebermanR. Pseudoaneurysm of the external carotid artery following radical neck dissection and irradiation: A case report and review of the literature. Cardiovasc Surg1994;2:607–11.
13.
GirishkumarHTSivakumarMAndazSSantoshVSolomonRBrownM. Pseudo-aneurysm of the carotid bifurcation secondary to radiation. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino)1999; 40:877–8.
14.
TanakaSKimuraYFurukawaM. Pseudoaneurysm of the carotid artery with haemorrhage into the hypopharynx. J Laryngol Otol1995;109:889–91.
15.
MorrisseyDDAndersenPENesbitGMBarnwellSLEvertsECCohenJI. Endovascular management of hemorrhage in patients with head and neck cancer. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg1997;123:15–9.
