A posttraumatic visual defect with late exacerbation associated with an aneurysm of the cervical internal carotid artery.

Abstract

A posttraumatic visual deficit which worsened eleven weeks later, with sudden visual loss, is reported. The neuro-ophthalmologic examination was suggestive of central retina artery occlusion. The intra-arterial angiography revealed a traumatic pseudo-aneurysm of the ipsilateral high extracranial portion of the internal carotid artery. Based upon the clinical examination, the hypothesis of embolization has been considered the most probable mechanism, which is a rarely described etiopathogenesis. The clinical, pathogenic and diagnostic aspects of this situation are discussed. Finally, the authors describe the treatment, which consisted of the occlusion of the internal carotid artery with detachable latex balloons.