*What is a Carotid artery aneurysm?*
An aneurysm is a bulging or ballooning in the wall of a blood vessel. It is caused when a portion of the artery wall weakens. The artery wall grows progressively thinner, increasing the likelihood that the aneurysm will burst.
*Symptoms*
The symptoms of a carotid artery aneurysm include transient ischemic attacks or stroke. Other symptoms are facial swelling, hoarseness, or difficulty swallowing from the aneurysm applying pressure to surrounding structures.
*Treatment*
If the aneurysm is small and is not causing any problems, waiting and watching may be the best option. A CT or MRI may be ordered every 6 to 12 months to watch the aneurysm for signs of changes. If it needs to be treated there are a couple of different options. One option is surgical repair in which a bypass is made from the normal artery below the aneurysm to the normal artery above the aneurysm. Another option is endovascular stent grafting. The physician will enter an artery in the groin and insert a stent in the area of the aneurysm, allowing the blood to flow freely.
This is a coronal CT image showing an aneurysm that is eroding the sphenoid bone and protruding into the sphenoid sinus.
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