Greater Saphenous Vein Aneurysms

Abstract

Unlike arterial aneurysms, the venous aneurysms are a much less frequent pathology and clinical experiences are limited to isolated cases. Those involving veins of the neck and extremities are the most frequent. The authors report one case of two greater saphenous vein aneurysms and comment on the literature.

The patient was a 43-year-old man with an antecedent right inguinal hernia repair, who had been presenting for the last 4 years because he had a growing mass in the right groin, currently measuring 6 cm in diameter, causing local discomfort; this mass was reduced in a recumbent position or with manipulation; and 7 cm lower there was another similar painless mass measuring 5 cm in diameter. Duplex scanning showed two aneurysms in the greater saphenous vein, which did not contain thrombus. Phlebography was not carried out. The surgical approach was a complete extraction of the greater saphenous vein.

From the review of the literature it is concluded that uncomplicated greater saphenous vein aneurysms are not associated with pulmonary embolism (unlike popliteal vein aneurysms) the surgical treatment is indicated when they cause discomfort or for aesthetic reasons.

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