Bilateral aneurysm of the popliteal vein. A case report and review of the literature

We report a case of a 86-year-old woman, with a 1-year history of pain during walking and standing; a duplex scanning of the popliteal fossa was performed bilaterally. We pointed out the presence of a bilateral popliteal vein aneurysm, partially thrombosed. She was treated only with oral anticoaugulant therapy, because of her age. Venous aneurysms are quite rare and are considered to be true when all three cell layers are present in the vessel wall; bilateral popliteal venous aneurysm is very rare and only one case was previously described. This report describes, moreover, with a large review of the world literature, histologic features and diagnostics and therapeutic choices.