Lesser saphenous vein aneurysm and popliteal vein aneurysm: report of two cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Background: During the last ten years we diagnosed two cases of venous aneurysm. The purpose of this report was to point out a certain risk of the thrombembolism of superficial venous aneurysms and to review our experience in the management of superficial and deep venous aneurysms.

Methods: The presentation and management of these lesions were reviewed and discussed together with other cases from available literature.

Results: In the first case an aneurysm of lesser saphenous vein with a possible threat of thrombembolism was revealed and surgically solved with saphena resection. Ten years after the surgery she is still symptom free. In the second case a small fusiforme popliteal vein aneurysm without any evidence of mural thrombus was diagnosed. The patient was treated conservatively with regular venous duplex imaging follow up. Two years later the disease has been stable.

Conclusions: Superficial venous aneurysms can have a certain risk of the thrombembolism. Since surgical therapy is very simple, it can be recommended in all cases. Nevertheless, trombembolism is more common in deep venous aneurysms, especially popliteal ones, in which surgical repair can be based on their pathological features and presentation or can be indicated in all cases.