An Unusual Presentation of Superficial Temporal Artery Pseudoaneurysm Following Penetrating Head Injury

Superficial temporal artery (STA) pseudoaneurysm is a rare vascular lesion that usually arises after blunt or penetrating trauma to the temporal region. Because the STA is only superficially covered by skin and subcutaneous tissue, it is highly susceptible to injury. We report the case of a 21-year-old male who presented with a painless, pulsatile swelling over the left temporal area three weeks after sustaining a knife injury. Doppler ultrasonography demonstrated a 4×1.2 cm pseudoaneurysm with a characteristic "to-and-fro" flow pattern, and contrast-enhanced CT angiography confirmed an oval pseudoaneurysm originating from the left STA. Following surgical ligation and excision of the pseudoaneurysm, the patient recovered without incident. Any patient who presents with a pulsatile mass after facial or scalp trauma should be suspected of having a STA pseudoaneurysm. To ensure positive results, early diagnosis using Doppler or CT angiography and timely surgical management are crucial in preventing rupture, hemorrhage, and cosmetic deformity.