Pseudoaneurysm of the external carotid artery following radical neck dissection and irradiation: a case report and review of the literature.

A 54-year-old man developed a pseudoaneurysm of the left external carotid artery 8 years after concluding treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Treatment included radiation therapy, radical neck dissection and a myocutaneous pectoralis major flap. Percutaneous transcatheter embolization resulted in thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm. A review of the literature yielded only six other reported cases of pseudoaneurysm of the external carotid artery proper.