Traumatic pseudoaneurysms of the head in war time: report of two unusual cases

Abstract

Either intracranial or extracranial pseudoaneurysms due to penetrating head injuries with gunshot are very rare entities. As the pseudoaneurysms of the superficial temporal artery are represented commonly with a pulsating mass lesion beneath scalp, the intracranial pseudoaneurysms are represented with symptoms including decreased conscious level, seizure, or focal neurological deficits. Here, two patients with combat related pseudoaneurysms are reported; one was in distal cortical branch of anterior cerebral artery and one was in superficial temporal artery. Both of the cases were victims of Libyan war. One was admitted with a swelling in his scalp and a pseudoaneurysms on parietal branch of superficial temporary artery diagnosed with computed tomography; and the other was incidentally diagnosed on distal cortical branch of anterior cerebral artery during operation for removal of an intracranial bullet. Both of the aneurysms treated with surgical excision without any complication.