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An aberrant internal carotid artery in the temporal bone presenting as a middle-ear mass: a case report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2007

A Eryilmaz ,
M Dagli ,
M Cayonu ,
E Dursun  and
C Gocer
A Eryilmaz
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Department, Ankara Numune Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
M Dagli*
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Department, Ankara Numune Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
M Cayonu
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Department, Ankara Numune Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
E Dursun
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Department, Ankara Numune Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
C Gocer
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Department, Ankara Numune Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
*
Address for correspondence: Muharrem Dagli, Cemal Gursel cad. No:48/1, Cebeci 06600 Ankara, Turkey. Fax: 90 312 435 8832 Email: mdagli@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Objective:

To draw attention to the possibility of an aberrant internal carotid artery behind an intact tympanic membrane presenting as a middle-ear mass.

Case:

A 48-year-old female patient presented with a hearing impairment in her right ear that had started 10 years ago. Otoscopic examination revealed a retro-tympanic mass. A high resolution computed tomography scan of the temporal bone was performed that showed protrusion of the internal carotid artery into the middle ear. Magnetic resonance angiography provided excellent visualisation of the internal carotid artery. Finally, a diagnosis of an aberrant internal carotid artery was made and the patient was evaluated with a conservative approach.

Conclusion:

All retro-tympanic masses should ideally be visualised with a computed tomography scan of the temporal bone before any middle-ear surgery, such as tympanotomy and biopsy, and it is essential for every otologist who undertakes myringotomy and middle-ear surgery to know about this rare entity.

Keywords

Middle EarInternal Carotid ArteryTemporal BoneOtologic Surgical Procedures
Type
Clinical Record
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 122 , Issue 9 , September 2008 , pp. 983 - 985
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2007

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