Visual Loss with Epistaxis

Abstract

This report discusses two cases of post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the cavernous part of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The patients presented with the triad of epistaxis, monocular visual loss, and an enhancing mass in sphenoethmoid region. Visual loss was due to multiple emboli in the central retinal artery in the first patient and to traumatic optic neuropathy in the second patient. The clinical characteristics of pseudoaneurysm of the cavernous part of ICA are also described.

KEYWORDS:

• Traumatic aneurysm
• cavernous carotid artery
• epistaxis
• sphenoid sinus