Aneurysms of extracranial carotid arteries.

Twenty-three extracranial carotid artery aneurysms were encountered in 19 patients. Arteriosclerosis was evident in 16 aneurysms. Severe arterial hypertension affected all patients with arteriosclerotic lesions. Trauma, penetrating neck injury once, and blunt neck injury three times caused four aneurysms. Three aneurysms resulted from earlier carotid artery operations. All 19 patients were symptomatic. Neurologic symptoms affected 13 individuals. Local symptoms referable to the aneurysmal mass troubled 15 patients. Twenty-one aneurysms were treated operatively. There was no operative mortality. Aneurysmectomy with arterial reconstruction was performed 16 times. Aneurysmorrhaphy was undertaken on four occasions and carotid ligation once. Two strokes and multiple cranial nerve injury accounted for three operative complications. No neurologic complications occurred during follow-up totaling 360 man-months. These lesions may be successfully treated by a carefully performed, properly selected operation.