[Profuse epistaxis caused by a nontraumatic carotid artery aneurysm]

Abstract

We present a case of epistaxis caused by a nontraumatic cavernous internal carotid artery aneurysm. A 43-year-old woman was hospitalised due to profuse epistaxis. Investigation with sinoscopy showed a pulsating artery in the sinus sphenoidalis and a follow-up MR angiography showed an aneurysm on the internal carotid artery. She was treated with coiling. The patient had no further bleeding episodes, and half a year after surgery she was neurologically intact. Carotid artery aneurysms must be considered in the differential diagnosis of profuse epistaxis.