One Case of Persistent Stapedial Artery Combined with Aberrant Internal Carotid Artery.
- Author:
Sang Heon LEE
1
;
Seong Won YOON
;
Sang Heon CHOI
;
Ha Min JEONG
Author Information
1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea. pericomo@wonkwnag.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Middle ear;
Internal carotid artery;
Computed tomography
- MeSH:
Arteries*;
Carotid Artery, Internal*;
Child, Preschool;
Diagnosis;
Diagnostic Errors;
Ear, Middle;
Facial Nerve;
Female;
Glomus Tumor;
Humans;
Incidental Findings;
Otitis Media with Effusion;
Physical Examination;
Running;
Tympanic Membrane
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2006;49(5):561-564
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
A 2-year-old girl had 2-month history of both secretory otitis media . Nine weeks after the first visit, physical examination revealed a whitish mass behind the intact right tympanic membrane. A CT study showed absence of the right foramen spinosum. The right ICA had an aberrant course running laterally in the middle ear cavity with ossesous canal. The soft tissue density in the normal location of the tympanic segment of facial nerve was markedly enlarged. A diagnosis of aberrant ICA and persistent stapedial artery was made. Vascular mass in the middle ear space are very uncommon. They continue to present a diagnostic problem, as the clinical symptoms and signs are often nonspecific and require radiological investigation to distinguish between glomus tumors, other vascular tumors, a dehiscent jugular bulb and an aberrant internal carotid artery. In approximately one per cent of the population, a dehiscent ICA canal is present and can result in the passing of an aberrant ICA through the middle ear space. The persistent stapedial artery is a rare congenital vascular anomaly that may present as a pulsatile middle ear mass or that may appear as an incidental finding. It is important for the otologist to be aware of this anomaly, as a misdiagnosis can have catastrophic consequences.
