Management of Incidental Carotid Cave Aneurysm
Aydan Arslan, Mustafa Güdük, Alp DinçerBackground:
Incidental diagnosis of saccular aneurysms is more common with the advent of imaging techniques. Because of the severe morbidity and mortality that they can cause, treatment is chased for them, either microsurgical treatment or endovascular, even when they are diagnosed incidentally. Carotid cave aneurysms are rare, and they seem to have a more benign course compared to other intracranial aneurysms, probably related to the physical enveloping effect of the surrounding structures. Yet, their microsurgical treatment is a serious challenge technically for the neurosurgeon, with its severe morbidity and mortality for the patient. Endovascular techniques have their risks, too.
Purpose:
In this paper, we analyzed and presented our series of incidentally diagnosed carotid cave aneurysms.
Materials and Methods:
The age, gender of patients, the size, laterality, and MR angiographic follow-up of aneurysms were reported. Their clinical results were noted.
Results:
Fifty-six patients who had incidentally been diagnosed with 59 carotid cave aneurysms were followed up. No patient was microsurgically treated, but 15 patients had endovascular treatment for 15 aneurysms. The mean size of 15 treated aneurysms was 4.6 ± 2.1 (range = 2–10) mm, and it was 3.0 ± 1.5 (range = 1.7–10) mm for the untreated aneurysms (
Conclusion:
Follow-up can be a reasonable option for the incidental aneurysms that are located and confined to the carotid cave. Additionally, TOF might be a reliable method for follow-up imaging of carotid cave aneurysms.