Abstract
Persistence of the embryonic sciatic artery as the major arterial channel to the lower leg is a rare anomaly. Twenty-one cases of sneurysm of a persistent sciatic artery have been reported in the world. This paper describes a case of aneurysm of a persistent sciatic artery. A 74-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of a pulsatile mass in the left buttock. Angiography showed a persistent left sciatic artery with an aneurysm and a hypoplastic left femoral artery. The persistent sciatic artery was supplying the entire circulation to the left lower leg. A left internal ilio-popliteal bypass was performed with resection of the aneurysm. A postoperative angiography showed the graft to be patent. The position of the aneurysm in the buttock is apt to result in rupture of the aneurysm. Therefore, patients with aneurysm of a persistent sciatic artery should be treated with an operation.
