[Radical endovascular surgery of a huge cavernous internal carotid artery aneurysm of an aged patient].

A case of a huge aneurysm of the cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is reported. The aneurysm was successfully treated by endovascular surgery. A 78-year-old woman presenting with mild headache and cavernous sinus syndrome on the left side was incidentally disclosed to have a huge aneurysm at the cavernous portion of the left ICA by MRI and MRA. An angiogram revealed that the aneurysm had a broad neck. In view of patient's age, concomitant coronary ischemia and wide aneurysmal neck, endovascular surgery under local anesthesia was thought to be the treatment of choice. The aneurysmal sac was completely embolized with platinum coils and the ICA by a balloon proximal to the aneurysm. Over the 5 months period, the patient's symptoms has all disappeared save for mild abducens palsy. It is believed that neck clipping is the method of treatment of intracranial aneurysms. However, endovascular surgery is less invasive and may be applicable to some of high risk patients.