A case of popliteal venous aneurysm associated with repeated pulmonary thromboembolism

Abstract

Popliteal venous aneurysm (VA) can cause fatal pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and therefore, surgical treatment is indicated. A 40-year-old man developed PTE and visited a hospital where venous ultrasonography and a computed tomography (CT) scan were performed, but no source of embolism was found. PTE recurred after 3 months, whereupon we administered thrombolytic and anticoagulation therapy at our hospital. However, PTE recurred one month later. We performed venous ultrasonography that revealed a cavity associated with the popliteal vein, which was diagnosed as a popliteal VA. We performed surgery and there has been no recurrence of PTE.