Cervical hemorrhage due to spontaneous rupture of the superior thyroid artery: Case report and review of the literature

✍ Scribed by Markus Stenner; Victor Helmstaedter; Elmar Spuentrup; Gero Quante; Karl-Bernd Huettenbrink

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 234 KB
• Volume: 32
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1043-3074
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.21213

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background

Beneath the different reasons for cervical masses, a spontaneous hemorrhage presents a rare and life‐threatening condition.

Methods and Results

We present the rare case of a 62‐year‐old man who was presented with a dramatically enlarging cervical mass causing respiratory distress because of upper airway compression. An endotracheal intubation was lifesaving and avoided tracheotomy. A CT scan revealed a hematoma in the region of the left external carotid artery. An emergency angiography embolized a ruptured branch of the superior thyroid artery and surgery evacuated the hematoma. We discuss the rarity of the condition, reasons for a spontaneous rupture of the artery, and the diagnostic and treatment strategy. In addition, we review the literature on spontaneous thyroid artery hemorrhages, which, up to now, have been described only for the inferior thyroid artery.

Conclusion

We conclude that the optimal management for cases of cervical hematoma is intubation, diagnosis, and angiography before surgery. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010