Bilateral Popliteal Vein Aneurysms

An 82-year-old man was admitted with a left hip fracture sustained in a fall. The fracture was surgically repaired. Ipsilateral leg swelling developed over the following 2 weeks. A lower extremity venous duplex scan demonstrated isolated dilatation of the popliteal veins in both lower extremities. Chronic thrombosis was noted in both popliteal veins at the level of this dilatation. Initial duplex scanning also revealed acute thrombus in the left popliteal, posterior tibial, and peroneal veins. A repeat scan 1 week later identified propagation of thrombus into the superficial femoral vein. Popliteal vein aneurysms, although rare, can cause significant morbidity and mortality. The literature is also reviewed.