Malem David, Bangash Haider Khan, Mwipatayi Bibombe Patrice
Hollywood Hospital, Perth, Australia.
Department of Vascular Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia.
Ann Vasc Surg. 2017 May;41:282.e15-282.e17. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2016.10.038. Epub 2017 Mar 1.
Primary axillary venous aneurysms (VAs) are rare, and there are only a handful of cases reported previously. The patient can be either asymptomatic or symptomatic and can present with local axillary swelling, dilated venules in overlying skin associated with local discomfort, peripheral neuropathy, or pulmonary embolisms. A 30-year-old man presented with a 4-month history of an uncomfortable lump in his left armpit that was associated with paresthesia radiating down to his left forearm and hand. He had no history of arm swelling and had a normal motor neurological examination. The clinical examination revealed a nontender palpable mass within the left axilla. Venous duplex imaging confirmed the diagnosis of axillary vein aneurysm measuring 6.1 cm. He underwent elective aneurysmorrhaphy repair of the axillary/basilic VA with satisfactory outcome. We present a rare case of a symptomatic primary axillary VA that was managed surgically with complete resolution of symptoms.
