Primary Popliteal Venous Aneurysm: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

Primary venous aneurysms are rare and are not clinically important in most cases. However, popliteal venous aneurysms can have serious complications, including pulmonary embolism and death, caused by thrombus formation inside of the aneurysm. Surgical repair of the aneurysm is generally recommended in symptomatic patients with thrombus or a combined pulmonary embolism. By contrast, the treatment of an asymptomatic popliteal venous aneurysm is controversial. We present the case of a primary popliteal venous aneurysm in a 63-year-old woman who had local extremity symptoms. The saccular 5.5 x 4.6 x 3.6 cm aneurysm was successfully repaired with an open tangential aneurysmectomy and lateral reconstruction.