Aberrant Internal Carotid Artery in the Middle Ear

Abstract

Aberrant internal carotid artery in the middle ear is a rare anomaly. Myringotomy in a patient with this anomaly caused violent hemorrhage, requiring immediate packing and eventual ligation of the artery. The anomaly may represent the artery bulging through a dehiscent bony canal, or it may be due to traction on the developing carotid by a persistent stapedial artery. Various middle ear symptoms have been reported in earlier cases. Diagnosis is by angiography, and therapy is surgical.