Surgical therapy of an asymptomatic primary popliteal venous aneurysm.

Primary popliteal venous aneurysm is a rare condition. To date, approximately 150 cases have been reported. In the present article, we report a 59-year-old man who presented with a swelling of the left popliteal fossa. Duplex ultrasound scan revealed a saccular aneurysm of the popliteal vein, with a diameter of 2.5 × 2.5 cm. The distal part of the popliteal vein was dilated in a fusiform configuration up to 2.0 cm on both sides. The diagnosis was confirmed using magnetic resonance imaging and ascending phlebography. There was no sign of venous thrombosis. Our patient presented without any previous clinical evidence of pulmonary emboli. Surgery was deemed indicated. A traditional tangential aneurysmectomy and lateral venorrhaphy of the distal fusiform part of the popliteal lesion was performed as well as resection of the saccular part using a dorsal approach. Surgery and recovery were uneventful. The patient presented for follow-up after 6 and 12 weeks without any complaints. Duplex ultrasound scanning and ascending phlebography (only once after 12 weeks) were performed, which confirmed patency.