Background: Superficial temporal artery (STA) aneurysms are relatively rare diseases, and the treatment approach is based on factors such as the location of the aneurysm, curability, complications, and patient request. However, the detailed outcome of STA aneurysms treated with endovascular surgery remains unknown.
Case description: A 75-year-old woman found a pulsatile mass lesion at a preauricular region with gradual enlargement. Angiography showed a thrombosed aneurysm originating from STA. Endovascular trapping was selected because she rejected open surgery for cosmetic reasons. Intra-aneurysmal blood flow disappeared on postoperative angiography. However, the aneurysm had enlarged for 8 months after the initial embolization. A recurrent aneurysm was resected, and pathological examination revealed neovascularization within the thrombotic lesion, suggesting neovascularization and re-canalization.
Conclusion: Endovascular trapping for thrombosed STA aneurysm might include recurrent risk, and direct resection should be considered as the first-line treatment.
Keywords: Angiogenesis; Channel formation; Superficial temporal artery aneurysms; Thrombosed aneurysm; Vasa vasorum.
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