Aberrant internal carotid artery in the middle ear: two case reports.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and radiological features of the vascular anomaly, aberrant internal carotid artery (ICA) in the temporal bone. METHODOLOGY: Case reports on two patients. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant ICA in the middle ear is a rare congenital abnormality usually identified on a computed tomographic scan before beginning middle ear surgery. Misdiagnosis may lead to serious surgical complications such as major bleeding, or even neurological deficit due to endovascular occlusion.