GIANT EXTRACRANIAL ANEURYSM OF THE CAROTI D-ARTERY

Differential diagnosis of uncertain swelling of the neck has a limited number of possibilities. Thyreoideal processes, lymphatic adenomatosi s and abscesses are in most of these cases present. However, vascular diseases should be also considered. It is current practice to perform a sonography, completed by computertomography for establishing a diagn osis. If vascular disease is suspected also an angiography is indicate d. During the diagnostic procedure we discovered a major aneurysm of t he left external carotid artery. The aneurysm was resected and vascula r continuity restored by PTFE patchplasty. In case of tumorous process es of the neck extracranial aneurysms of the carotid artery have to be included into the differential diagnosis in order to guarantee adequa te therapy.