True aneurysm of the proximal occipital artery: Case report

Giulio Illuminati; Marco Cannistrà; Giulia Pizzardi; Rocco Pasqua; Francesca Frezzotti; Francesco G Calio'

doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2018.01.011

True aneurysm of the proximal occipital artery: Case report

Int J Surg Case Rep. 2018:43:32-35. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2018.01.011. Epub 2018 Feb 9.

Authors

Giulio Illuminati¹, Marco Cannistrà², Giulia Pizzardi², Rocco Pasqua², Francesca Frezzotti², Francesco G Calio'²

Affiliations

¹ The University of Rome "La Sapienza", Department of Surgical Sciences, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: giulio.illuminati@uniroma1.it.
² The University of Rome "La Sapienza", Department of Surgical Sciences, Rome, Italy.

Abstract

Introduction: True aneurysms of the proximal occipital artery are rare, may cause neurological symptoms due to compression of the hypoglossal nerve and their resection may be technically demanding.

Presentation of case: The case of an aneurysm of the proximal occipital artery causing discomfort and tongue deviation by compression on the hypoglossal nerve is reported. Postoperative course after resection was followed by complete regression of symptoms.

Conclusion: Surgical resection, as standard treatment of aneurysms of the occipital artery, with the eventual technical adjunct of intubation by the nose is effective in durably relieving symptoms and preventing aneurysm-related complication.

Keywords: Arterial aneurysm; Case report; Occipital artery.