A case of bilateral nontraumatic internal carotid aneurysms presenting with recurrent massive epistaxis

A case of bilateral nontraumatic internal carotid aneurysms presenting with recurrent massive epistaxis was reported. A 37-year-old female complaining of massive epistaxis from the left nostril was admitted to our hospital. After admission, she experienced recurrent massive epistaxis, but had no cranial nerve palsies. Carotid angiography demonstrated an aneurysm of the cavernous portion of the left internal carotid artery partially protruding into the sphenoid sinus. Neck clipping of the aneurysm was unsuccessful, therefore the left internal carotid ligation in the neck was performed with a Selverstone clamp. After the ligation, no rebleeding and neurological deficits occurred. Postoperative carotid angiography showed an aneurysm of the right internal carotid artery at the same site. The carotid angiography of 3 months later and 1 year and 3 months later revealed that the left aneurysm decreased in size and the right one remained unchanged. Twenty-one cases including ours that presented nontraumatic internal carotid aneurysm of the cavernous portion were reviewed. Twelve cases had no cranial nerve palsies, and 7 cases including ours had no other symptoms than massive epistaxis. Because massiveness of epistaxis from an internal carotid aneurysm often threatens one's life, diagnosis should be made by carotid angiography as soon as possible. There are several surgical procedures for such aneurysms. Clipping is the ideal method which can interrupt the blood flow to the aneurysm completely, but it is very difficult to be performed anatomically. Carotid ligation in the neck with little surgical invasion was an excellent method in 7 cases without rebleeding and neurological deficits. Bilateral intracavernous internal carotid aneurysms were found in our case and another case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)