[Differential diagnosis of groin pain: isolated, symptomatic dissection of the infrarenal aorta and iliac arteries].

INTRODUCTION

Pelvic and inguinal pain are a rare manifestation of arterial disease.

METHODS

Description of four patients with acute or chronic pelvic or inguinal pain due to symptomatic dissection of the infrarenal aorta and/or iliac arteries.

RESULTS

In two cases the dissection was limited to the left iliac artery with an entry at the beginning of the common iliac artery. The re-entry was located in the distal external iliac or common femoral artery. In one patient additionally a infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm was found. In the other two patients the entry of the spontaneous dissection was in the position of the infrarenal aorta, with extension in one iliac artery. In two patients the diagnosis of Erdheim-Gsell media necrosis was histologically confirmed.

CONCLUSIONS

Spontaneous arterial dissection should be considered in patients with pelvic or inguinal pain. Absence of thoracic symptoms is possible if the entry of the dissection is distal, within the infrarenal aorta or iliac arteries. Prompt diagnosis with duplex sonography, CT, arteriography or MRA is indicated. The type of reconstruction depends on the extent of the dissection and the concomitant arterial disease.