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Internal carotid artery aneurysm presenting as orofacial pain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 May 2012

S J Stone ,
V Paleri  and
K S Staines
S J Stone*
Affiliation:
School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
V Paleri
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Department, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, UK
K S Staines
Affiliation:
Newcastle Dental Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Simon Stone, School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BW, UK E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objectives:

We report a case of an internal carotid artery aneurysm presenting as orofacial pain.

Method:

Case report and discussion.

Results:

A 59-year-old patient presented with a four-year history of chronic oral pain accompanied by a right-sided occipital headache. No local organic pathology was detected, and a provisional diagnosis of persistent idiopathic facial pain was made. A neurosurgery referral was made to exclude neurovascular pathology, which resulted in the detection of an aneurysm originating from the right posterior communicating artery. This was successfully treated by coil embolisation, with subsequent resolution of symptoms.

Conclusion:

In this patient, an atypical history of pain with no other neurological signs or symptoms, other than accompanying occipital headache, led to the discovery of an intracranial aneurysm. This case highlights the need for appropriate referral and imaging in cases in which the clinical history and findings are not classical, and also emphasises the need for interdisciplinary management.

Keywords

PainFacial PainIntracranial AneurysmTrigeminal Nerve
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 126 , Issue 8 , August 2012 , pp. 851 - 853
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2012

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References

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