Spontaneous hemorrhage arising from a proximal descending branch of the suprascapular artery

Abstract

Suprascapular arterial hemorrhage is exceedingly uncommon. This case presents a 71-year-old male with a spontaneous suprascapular artery hemorrhage without a clear cause. He initially presented to the emergency department (ED) with an expanding soft tissue mass overlying his left neck, shoulder, and back. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed active contrast extravasation from a branch of the left suprascapular artery, controlled by embolization. There are no prior case reports of spontaneous suprascapular artery hemorrhage, though rupture secondary to an inciting traumatic event has been described. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for vascular injury in patients with an enlarging soft tissue mass, as early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for achieving a favorable outcome.