Venous Popliteal Aneurysm

Venous aneurysms are an uncommon finding yet important to understand because they can have very serious ramifications. They are associated with pulmonary emboli, venous thrombosis, and, in some cases, death. Although no clear consensus has been reached regarding the cause of venous aneurysms or their treatment, their presence is of concern. In the case presented, a man in his eighties was admitted to our institution for an intracranial bleed. During his hospitalization, a computed tomography angiography was obtained because of shortness of breath. The test was positive for pulmonary emboli. A venous Doppler was subsequently performed and that demonstrated an occlusive thrombus in a popliteal venous aneurysm.