Cutaneous rupture of infected carotid artery pseudoaneurysm following neck dissection and radiotherapy for thyroid cancer

Kübra Gözaçık Karakoç, Tamer Cebe

Abstract

We report a case of a 72-year-old man with advanced thyroid cancer who presented with massive neck bleeding from a ruptured infected pseudoaneurysm of the left common carotid artery, following radical neck dissection and radiotherapy. Due to active haemorrhage, tissue infection, and haemodynamic instability, endovascular treatment was contraindicated. Emergency surgical ligation of the left common and internal carotid arteries was performed. Postoperative infection control was achieved with broad- spectrum antibiotics and wound care. The patient recovered without neurological deficits. Prompt recognition and surgical intervention can be lifesaving in infected carotid pseudoaneurysm rupture.