POPLITEAL VENOUS ANEURYSMS

Popliteal venous aneurysms are rarely reported but represent a potenti ally life-threatening condition requiring accurate diagnosis and surgi cal resection. Newer techniques including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and color flow duplex imaging offer new noninvasi ve methods to define popliteal fossa venous abnormalities. Excision of the aneurysm with venous reconstruction removes the embolic source an d maintains prograde venous flow. A posterior surgical approach to the popliteal fossa is recommended to facilitate exposure. Early control of venous outflow is needed to avoid thromboembolism. This report desc ribes the diagnosis and treatment of popliteal venous aneurysms in thr ee patients with a review of the English-language literature.