GIANT INFECTIOUS INTRACAVERNOUS CAROTID-ARTERY ANEURYSM PRESENTING ASINTRACTABLE EPISTAXIS

Infectious intracavernous carotid artery aneurysms usually present wit h ophthalmoplegia and/or signs of cavernous sinus thrombosis. We repor t an unusual case in which a patient with AIDS presented with intracta ble epistaxis secondary to rupture of a giant infectious intracavernou s carotid artery aneurysm. Culture of the aneurysm grew mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI). The patient was treated successfully by ex cision of the aneurysm and reconstruction of the internal carotid arte ry with a saphenous vein interposition graft.