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Aberrant carotid artery
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Aberrant carotid artery

Contributors: Ryan Hoefen MD, PhD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Embryonically derived variant of the internal carotid artery. May have enlarged collaterals in the middle ear and be seen as a retrotympanic vascular mass. Characterized by choking or globus sensation, otalgia, hearing loss, aural fullness, vertigo, pulsatile tinnitus, and mass behind the tympanic membrane. May be associated with obstructive sleep apnea. May be discovered inadvertently upon imaging or surgery for another disorder. Complications may be fatal due to hemorrhage, particularly if surgeon is unaware of the aberrant carotid in the vicinity of the temporal bone or tonsils.

Conservative management by observation is called for, generally avoiding surgery due to the high risk for bleeding or death. For severe and troublesome symptoms (hearing loss, pulsatile tinnitus, chronic middle ear infection), surgical treatment may be indicated with careful balancing of the risks. The aberrant artery may be covered with silicone or fascia and bone grafts to reposition and protect it from unintended damage during ear surgery.

Codes

ICD10CM:
H74.90 – Unspecified disorder of middle ear and mastoid, unspecified ear

SNOMEDCT:
68996008 – Disorder of middle ear

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

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Best Tests

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References

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Last Updated:03/15/2016
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Aberrant carotid artery
A medical illustration showing key findings of Aberrant carotid artery : Choking, Hearing loss, Pulsatile tinnitus, Globus sensation
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.