Primary venous aneurysms: A 20-year retrospective analysis

Abstract

Objective Primary venous aneurysms are unusual vascular occurrences. Our aim is to document our institution’s experience with this pathology; describing frequency, diagnosis, outcomes and medical histories of patients with primary venous aneurysms within a 20-year time frame. Methods A retrospective study at our institution using its radiology database was conducted. Results were isolated to primary venous aneurysms diagnosed between 1997 and 2017. Basic demographics and medical history were collected. Results We identified 32 patients with primary venous aneurysms. Eighteen were male and 14 were female. The average age of presentation was 54 years old, with a range of 17–86. None of these patients reported a family history of aneurysmal disease. The majority were incidental. Of these aneurysms, 3 were of the head and neck, 1 was contained in the thorax, 17 were intra-abdominal and 11 were peripheral. Diagnosis was made by computed tomography, duplex ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging. Conservative management was most frequently employed, but four patients underwent surgical repair. Three aneurysms required operation for symptom management (external jugular, subclavian, inferior vena cava), whereas one aneurysm of the popliteal vein was prophylactically managed, given the high risk for pulmonary embolism. Conclusions Primary venous aneurysms present infrequently. Despite their rarity, primary venous aneurysms have been reported to occur throughout the venous system. The majority of primary venous aneurysms in this series were found incidentally and can present both symptomatically or asymptomatically. The findings of our 20-year experience were consistent with the existing literature. Because the risk of rupture is negligible, the indications for surgical management remain for cosmesis, symptom management or high risk of thromboembolic events.