Excision and End-to-End Anastomosis of a Giant Partially Thrombosed Cervical Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm Mimicking a Neck Tumor: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Aneurysms of the cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) are a rare entity1,2 accounting for less than 0.2% to 0.5% of all carotid surgeries3 and less than 1% of all arterial aneurysms.4 There are several types of aneurysms, which include dissecting aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, mycotic aneurysms, and fusiform and saccular aneurysms.5 The causes can include atherosclerosis, trauma, infection, and dysplasia. We present the case of a 70-yr-old otherwise healthy female found to have a neck mass. She was referred from a peripheral vascular surgeon to a head and neck surgeon for potential biopsy. The head and neck surgeon obtained vascular imaging and referred the patient to neurosurgery for definitive management. The patient gave informed consent for the procedure. An excision of the cervical ICA aneurysm and reanastomosis of the cervical ICA was performed. The patient remained neurologically intact postoperatively and imaging demonstrated complete aneurysm occlusion and a patent cervical ICA anastomosis. The patient gave verbal consent for this case to be published.