Clinical relationship between femoral artery aneurysms and arteriomegaly.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of arteriomegaly in patients with femoral artery aneurysms (FAAs), and assess the differences in clinical characteristics between patients with and without arteriomegaly.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 11 patients with a collective total of 16 true FAAs treated at our hospital between 1980 and 2000. The diagnosis of FAAs and arteriomegaly was made by angiography, ultrasonography, and computed tomography.

RESULTS

All 11 patients were men, 7 of whom had arteriomegaly with multiple aneurysms, including 1 abdominal aortic aneurysm, 5 iliac artery aneurysms, 5 contralateral FAAs, and 2 popliteal artery aneurysms. Aneurysmal multiplicity was not seen in the other 4 patients who had no evidence of arteriomegaly. Three patients in the nonarteriomegaly group were complicated by atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the lower extremities. Resection and arterial reconstruction was performed for 12 aneurysms; resection for 1, wrapping for 1, and exclusion for 2. One patient who underwent exclusion of an aneurysm suffered rupture of the aneurysm 1 year after the initial operation.

CONCLUSION

A high incidence of multiple aneurysms was seen among patients with FAA, and all of those with arteriomegaly had multiple aneurysms. This suggests the need for a rationale to assess aneurysmal diseases for patients with arteriomegaly.