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

Abstract

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.

A Potentially Catastrophic Anatomical Variation: Aberrant Internal Carotid Artery in the Middle Ear Cavity

“…Possible vascular variations of the temporal bone are the aberrant internal carotid artery, high jugular bulb, persistent stapedial artery, dehiscent carotid artery canal, and dehiscent high jugular bulb [4, 7]. An aberrant ICA has an incidence of less than one percent [7, 8].…”

“…It is generally accepted to be a collateral pathway that occurs as a result of agenesis of the first embryonic segment of the ICA [2]. The clinical symptoms and signs of aberrant ICA are often nonspecific and include hearing loss, pulsatile tinnitus, and a retrotympanic mass behind the anteroinferior part of the membrane [3, 4]. …”

Aberrant internal carotid artery in the middle ear with dehiscent high jugular bulb

“…Vascular anomalies of the temporal bone are rare, but some are significant in the event of middle-ear surgery. These vascular variants are aberrant internal carotid artery (ICA), high jugular bulb, persistent stapedial artery, dehiscent carotid artery canal and dehiscent high jugular bulb 2 , 5 . An aberrant ICA has an incidence of less than one per cent 3 , 5 .…”

“…1,2 The condition needs to be distinguished from glomus tumour, high jugular bulb and other vascular malformations. 1,2 The condition needs to be distinguished from glomus tumour, high jugular bulb and other vascular malformations.…”

“…The clinical symptoms and signs of aberrant ICA are often non-specific, and include hearing loss, pulsatile tinnitus and a retro-tympanic mass behind the anteroinferior part of the tympanic membrane 1 , 2 . The condition needs to be distinguished from glomus tumour, high jugular bulb and other vascular malformations.…”