Endovascular embolization to control life-threatening epistaxis due to a post radiotherapy pseudoaneurysm of the maxillary artery.

SUMMARY: We report an unusual case (never described) of a false aneurysm of the maxillary artery following irradiation and biopsy that ruptured into the nasopharynx in an 34-year-old man who presented with severe epistaxis 15 months after radiation therapy of the nasopharynx (80 Gy). Angiography revealed a fusiform aneurysm of the second portion of the maxillary artery, which was successfully embolized but the patient died from a pseudomonas septicemia three months later. False aneurysms of the maxillary artery following irradiation are exceptional complications. Despite a successful endovascular treatment, the absence of collateral revascularization did not allow to complete healing of the radionecrotic pharyngeal area and led to a lethal septicemia.