Aneurysm of the external carotid artery.

Extracranial internal carotid artery aneuriysms (EICAA) are rare. There are few reports in the medical literature about its etiology, relating these aneurysms to atherosclerosis, arteritis and alterations due to trauma or after surgical procedure. The natural history of the disease has not been well-defined yet. However, the potential risk of embolism originating from the aneurysm – or even its rupture – indicates a need for intervention. We present the case of a seventy-one year old woman, who was diagnosed an aneurysm of three cm diameter of the right EICA, with throbbing headache complaints. After an unsuccessful attempt of endovascular treatment, we performed a surgical procedure with aneurysmectomy and primary end-to-end anastomosis near the skull base.