Abstract
BackgroundMycotic pseudoaneurysm of the carotid artery is a severe and rare disease. When it ruptures, it can produce severe morbidity and high mortality. It presents clinically as a pulsatile mass, usually diagnosable by computed tomography angiography with definitive confirmation achieved by establishing the presence of the pathogen in the tissue sample. Case presentationWe present the case of a 68-year-old male patient with a history of total laryngectomy. He presented with painful and pulsatile mass in his neck and, after precise evaluation, a ruptured carotid mycotic pseudoaneurysm was promptly detected and treated. After a surgical intervention and an adequate course of antibiotics, the patient successfully recovered. ConclusionsMycotic pseudoaneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery are uncommon and should always be surgically treated. Due to the high risk of potential complications, restoration of the arterial flow should be attempted in all occasions. High clinical awareness is imperative when approaching a mycotic pseudoaneurysm due to its wide spectrum of clinical symptoms, and must always be considered when diagnosing tumors of the neck. Despite its rarity, early detection and prompt treatment are critical to minimize the possibility of a fatal outcome.
Highlights
We present the case of a male patient with a pulsatile mass on his neck, successfully diagnosed as a carotid pseudoaneurysm
The aneurysmal sac was opened and we discovered a ruptured wall of the common carotid artery (CCA) with inflammation, necrosis and 150 cc of pus
Mycotic pseudoaneurysms fall within one of two categories: actual mycotic pseudoaneurysms arise following infection of a previously normal arterial wall, whereas an infected traumatic pseudoaneurysm is an infection of a pre-existing aneurysm [3,14]
Summary
Mycotic pseudoaneurysm of the carotid artery is a severe and rare disease. When it ruptures, it can produce severe morbidity and high mortality. It can produce severe morbidity and high mortality It presents clinically as a pulsatile mass, usually diagnosable by computed tomography angiography with definitive confirmation achieved by establishing the presence of the pathogen in the tissue sample. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 68-year-old male patient with a history of total laryngectomy. He presented with painful and pulsatile mass in his neck and, after precise evaluation, a ruptured carotid mycotic pseudoaneurysm was promptly detected and treated. Early detection and prompt treatment are critical to minimize the possibility of a fatal outcome
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