Congenital Aneurysm Presenting as Peripheral Facial Paresis

Abstract

The incidence of intracranial aneurysms in infancy is relatively rare. They are infrequent in children less than 1 year old, and are an exception in the neonatal period. They usually originate in the internal carotid artery bifurcation, posterior circulation and seldom in the territory of the distal middle cerebral artery distribution. Infants often present with nonspecific symptoms: irritability, lethargy, vomiting, seizures and coma. Sometimes, they may present with unexpected clinical symptoms such as peripheral facial palsy. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is the most frequent presentation in this kind of aneurysms. Intracerebral hematoma is unusual. We present the case of a 10-week-old child harboring a middle cerebral artery aneurysm. To our knowledge, this is the first case of an aneurysm presenting as a peripheral facial paresis in a pediatric patient.

Peripheral Facial Paralysis and Bilateral Carotid Pseudoaneurysms of Petrous Localization: A Case Report

“…9 In addition, the case of a 10-month-old child with peripheral facial paralysis due to a congenital aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery was described, although the incidence of intracranial aneurysms in childhood is exceptional. 10 In our case, the progressive aggravation of the isolated peripheral facial paralysis justified a tomodensitometry of the petrous bones. Intrapetrous aneurysms were thus a fortuitous discovery on CT scan.…”

“…In addition, the case of a 10-month-old child with peripheral facial paralysis due to a congenital aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery was described, although the incidence of intracranial aneurysms in childhood is exceptional. 10…”