Late renal vein aneurysm following living related renal transplant

Abstract

Renal vein aneurysms are rare; there are less than 10 reported cases. As of yet there have been no reported cases of renal vein aneurysm following renal transplantation. We present a case of an incidentally discovered renal vein aneurysm following uncomplicated living related renal transplant. The lesion was discovered 4 years after the transplant through abdominal ultrasound investigation of new right lower quadrant discomfort. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of a 2.3-cm thrombosed renal vein aneurysm of the main renal vein. This case report highlights the rare nature of these events, the diagnostic challenges and the lack of satisfactory management guidelines in these cases.

Fig. 1.

Doppler ultrasound demonstrating transplant main renal vein aneurysm with no flow. The aneurysm (arrow) is visualized adjacent to the main renal vein which demonstrates normal flow patterns and velocities.

Fig. 2.

T1 weighted magnetic resonance image demonstrating a patent main renal transplant vein with a saccular aneurysm. The aneurysm (arrow) measures 2.3 cm and is located 1.3 cm from the anastomosis of the main renal vein to the recipient right external iliac vein. The aneurysm demonstrates no flow and no extension of thrombus into the vein.