The pulsatile head mass, ‘uncommon things are sometimes common’. A case series

Abstract

IntroductionSuperficial temporal artery aneurysms account for less than 1% of all reported aneurysms. It is often the result of mild blunt trauma to the side of the head and patients present several weeks later with a pulsatile head mass. Presentation of caseWe report two cases referred to surgery in a 3 month period, from the same GP, of patients which this condition. The first case is a 21 year old carpenter who sustained blunt trauma during a rugby match to the side of the head. He presented several weeks later with headache and an otherwise painless pulsatile mass. The second case refers to a 20 year old male who received blunt trauma to the side of head from an assault. He was referred to his GP due family observing a painless pulsatile mass to the scalp. DiscussionThese cases highlight the relatively little force required to cause this pathological process. Management of this condition is by surgical excision. Simple examination techniques to obliterate the pulse locally can reveal the diagnosis. Subsequent literature search allowed discussion of the management of this rare but important differential diagnosis of a pulsatile head mass. ConclusionAlthough rare, STA represents a complication of low energy trauma that requires elective surgical management.