Endovascular Repair of a Common Carotid Pseudoaneurysm in a Patient with Behçet’s Disease: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a multisystem inflammatory disorder. Physicians should be alerted to the possibility of BD in a patient with a carotid artery pseudoaneurysm and no clear predisposing factor such as neck trauma or surgery. Endovascular repair of carotid pseudoaneurysms is technically feasible with excellent midterm follow-up results. Administration of immunosuppressive therapy before endovascular intervention is mandatory to reduce the chance of vascular complications accompanied by BD.
A 40-year-old man presented with a painful and pulsatile neck mass with 2 episodes of transient ischemic attacks. The patient also complained of recurrent urogenital ulcers and aphthous lesions together with painful rashes. Ultrasonography and computed tomography angiography revealed 2 aneurysmal dilations in the left common carotid artery at the bifurcation level. He was referred to a rheumatologist, who made the diagnosis of BD. High-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide were commenced. One week later, 2 overlapping self-expanding stent grafts were deployed. The final angiogram showed no residual endoleak, and the flow of the carotid and cerebral arteries was satisfactory. The patient was discharged with no neurological complications. Follow-up ultrasonography and computed tomography angiography 6 months later showed no endoleak, as well as significant shrinkage of the aneurysm sac.