Vertebral artery aneurysm: Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

A nontender, nonpulsatile large anterior neck mass was found at operation to be an atherosclerotic aneurysm of the vertebral artery, an extremely rare condition. Proximal control and distal control were obtained and the aneurysm was excised. Aneurysms of the vertebral artery are infrequent but well-defined complications in connective tissue disorders such as the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and they can develop subsequent to penetrating neck trauma. However, no cases of atherosclerotic vertebral artery aneurysms have been reported recently in the English-language literature. The case presented illustrates that this rare condition should be considered in all patients who have neck masses of undetermined etiology.