Superficial Temporal Artery Pseudoaneurysm: A Report of Two Ruptured Cases and Review of Literature

Abstract

Superficial temporal artery (STA) pseudoaneurysms are rare cause of scalp swellings and majority are due to trauma. Diagnosis is mainly clinical and the treatment of choice is surgery. Haemorrhage is a rare complication of untreated cases. We report two bleeding superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysms managed in our centre. They presented with actively bleeding scalp swellings, one in the parietal region and the other in the temple. Diagnosis of superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysm was made clinically in both cases. Xylocaine with Adrenaline infiltration around the afferent and efferent vessels stopped the bleeding. The patients had coagulation of afferent and efferent vessels and excision of the  pseudoaneurysms with good outcome. We also reviewed literature on pseudoaneurysms of the superficial temporal artery.

Key words: Bleeding, Pseudoaneurysm, Superficial temporal artery, Surgery.