[Post-traumatic arteriovenous fistulae and pseudoaneurysms of the superficial temporal artery: presentation of 4 cases].

Three cases of traumatic arteriovenous fistula of the superficial temporal artery and one of pseudoaneurysm seen over a recent two-year period are presented and the literature is reviewed. Because of the course of the superficial temporal artery over the temporal bone, it is vulnerable to injury. The differential diagnosis includes hematoma, cysts, inflammatory lesions, vascular tumors and aneurysms of the middle meningeal artery. If there is doubt as to the diagnosis, angiography could confirm it, although it is seldom necessary. The treatment is simple and consists of proximal and sital ligation of the artery before aneurysmal sac or fistula removal.