Abstract
Aneurysm of the gluteal artery is uncommon and may develop insidiously without recognized trauma. Pain and swelling in the buttock accompanied by signs of blood loss should lead to angiography to demonstrate the size and location of the aneurysm. Large lesions are to be resected only after provision for iliac or gluteal artery control. We have demonstrated, however, that a small peripheral lesion may be approached directly with excellent results.
Aneurysm of a gluteal artery usually presents as a sizable pulsating mass in the buttock. Blunt or penetrating trauma has been sited as a cause but frequently the lesion develops insidiously without recognized injury. Several reports describe fatal or near fatal outcome while treating a pulsating mass of the buttock because of the diagnosis of gluteal artery aneurysm was not considered prior to incision.
Our case seems worthy of reporting because of the small size of the aneurysm and the defiant though logical clinical presentation and progression. The aneurysm originated in a small peripheral branch of the inferior gluteal artery, developed insidiously without recognized trauma, and was diagnosed by angiography only after the patient had four distinct episodes of hemorrhage into the buttock. Successful treatment was accomplished without initial retroperitoneal control of the internal iliac artery or its major branches.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.