Otorrhagia as the initial presentation of an internal carotid artery aneurysm in the middle ear. Case presentation

Middle ear aneurysms are rare and difficult to treat. The case of a 50-year-old female who presented with left otorrhagia caused by an internal carotid aneurysm is reported. She had no medical history of tinnitus, vertigo, otalgia or otorrhea. Middle ear surgery was effective in resolving bleeding and did not cause any permanent neurological deficit. High resolution computed tomography angiography is the technique of choice and, in some cases, can be complemented with a magnetic resonance angiography. Misdiagnosis of the internal carotid artery aneurysm may lead to serious morbidity because of bleeding or vascular occlusion. The use of modern imaging techniques explain the current relative increase in frequency.