Post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery - Importance of echo-Doppler evaluation of the intimal damage

Nonpenetrating traumas of the extracranial carotid artery are uncommon and frequently involve the carotid bifurcation. We report a case of asymptomatic post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the common carotid artery in a 32-year-old woman, detected by chance 12 years after a cervical injury. Of all the investigations, only echo-Doppler permitted the detection of an intimal tear at the level of the aneurysmatic dilatation. After aneurysmectomy, 8 mm PTFE graft replacement was carried out. We believe that routine use of echo-Doppler ultrasonography in all asymptomatic patients with a definite history of contusive cervical trauma should be recommended. In our opinion, the absolute surgical indication resulted from the local and neurological complications potentially stemming from the pseudoaneurysmatic dilatation.