Occult carotid pseudoaneurysm following streptococcal throat infection

Mordekar, S R
Bradley, P J
Whitehouse, W P
Goddard, A JP

¹Department of Paediatric Neurology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
²Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
³Academic Division of Child Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
⁴Department of Neuroradiology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK

Correspondence: Dr SR Mordekar, Department of Paediatric Neurology, Ryegate Children's Centre, Tapton Crescent, Sheffield S10 5DD, UK. Fax: +44 1142678296; email: [email protected]

Accepted for publication 25 June 2005.

Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health 41(12):p 682-684, December 2005.

Pseudoaneurysm of the internal carotid artery (PAICA) is a rare complication of neck space infection. An 8-year-old girl presented with odynophagia (painful swallowing), trismus and left peritonsillar swelling. Abscess was suspected, but aspiration was dry. The PAICA was diagnosed on computed tomography. The aneurysm and involved left internal carotid artery were occluded endovascularly. She has made an uneventful recovery.