Popliteal venous aneurysms: Report of an unusual presentation and literature review

Aneurysms of the popliteal vein represent a rare clinical finding. Most pat ients with popliteal venous aneurysms present with pulmonary emboli. We des cribe a case report of a 69-year-old female who presented with popliteal fo ssa pain. A popliteal venous aneurysm was detected following extensive diag nostic work-up that included magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), venous duple x, and venography. At operation, the aneurysm was found to be compressing t he tibial nerve. Tangential aneurysmectomy and lateral venorrhaphy was perf ormed. A PTFE sleeve was placed around the site of venous repair to prevent recurrence of the aneurysm and to keep the tibial nerve free of the repair site. The postoperative course was uneventful, and duplex studies at 18 mo nths after the procedure remain normal. The etiology of popliteal venous an eurysms is discussed here, and presentation, diagnostic work-up, and treatm ent options are reviewed. We demonstrate that pain in the popliteal fossa s hould be considered a presenting symptom for venous aneurysms. DOI:10.1009/ s100169910050.