Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2012 Sep;55(9):595-598. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.9.595.

A Case of Spontaneous Hemorrhage of Ruptured Hemangioma Originated from Carotid Artery

• Cho SH
• Kim SW
• Kim HK
• Lee SW

• KMID: 2141148
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.9.595

Abstract

There are various reasons as to why the carotid artery ruptures, which is a life-threatening problem. Although several specific conditions may predispose the carotid artery to rupture, spontaneous carotid bleeding from hemangioma rupture originateing from the carotid artery wall is extremely rare. We present a case of a 56-year-old male, with a massive neck swelling without any causes. Contrast enhanced computed tomography revealed a massive hematoma in the region of the left level II, III and linear enhancement leakage from the left common carotid artery. During the emergent neck exploration, we found a few centimeters of reddish mass on the lower part of the carotid bifurcation following massive hematoma removal. This mass is the origin of the massive bleeding and we carefully dissected the mass from the carotid artery without causing any severe bleeding or other complications. The pathologic report revealed that the carotid mass is hemangioma that originates from the carotid artery wall (tunica adventitia). We report, with a literature reviews, this extremely rare case of spontaneous hemorrhage from hemangioma rupture from the carotid artery wall.

Keyword

Carotid artery; Hemangioma; Hemorrhage

MeSH Terms

Carotid Arteries
Carotid Artery, Common
Hemangioma
Hematoma
Hemorrhage
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neck
Rupture
Rupture, Spontaneous