MULTIPLE IDIOPATHIC ARTERIAL ANEURYSMS IN CHILDREN - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

A 6-year-old boy from China presented initially at 2 years of age with a pulsatile mass in his right antecubital fossa. He was not fully eva luated until the age of six years, when pan-angiography and computed a xial tomography scan revealed multiple aneurysms of his-right brachial artery, right radial artery aneurysms, an infrarenal aortic aneurysm, and a right internal carotid artery aneurysm in the region of the cav ernous sinus. The patient underwent uneventful repairs of both the abd ominal aortic aneurysm and the multiple aneurysms of the right arm. Pa thologic evaluation was significant for medial fibrosis of the arteria l wall with decreased and disordered elastin fibers. Review of the pre viously reported cases in children indicate the upper extremity arteri es are involved in 92% of patients, the aortoiliac region in 92% of pa tients, and the renal/mesenteric vessels in 77% of cases. Lower extrem ity and cerebrovascular arteries are involved to a lesser extent. Chil dren with peripheral aneurysms should have pan-angiography performed b efore treatment is begun. Surgical repair in these cases has been exce llent.