Title : Popliteal artery aneurysm secondary to osteochondroma: A rare cause of a pulsatile knee mass
Abstract:
Popliteal artery aneurysm is defined as an abnormal dilation of the popliteal artery with a diameter greater than 15 mm. It accounts for approximately 70% of all peripheral arterial aneurysms and occurs more frequently in men. The most common etiology is atherosclerotic disease; however, trauma and infection have also been described as causative factors. A much rarer cause is osteochondroma, a benign bone tumor typically located in the distal femur or proximal tibia. The proposed pathophysiological mechanism involves repetitive mechanical trauma of the artery against the bony lesion, which may lead to arterial wall damage and pseudoaneurysm formation. Clinically, patients often present with pain and a pulsatile mass in the popliteal fossa. We report the case of a 22-year-old woman who presented with intermittent claudication and a progressively enlarging mass in the right popliteal fossa with a 10-month history. Computed tomography angiography revealed a large popliteal artery aneurysm measuring 8 × 6 cm, with a maximum diameter of 8.5 cm. The patient underwent open surgical resection of the aneurysm without complications. Postoperative pathological analysis did not reveal additional findings; however, previous medical records documented a femoral osteochondroma in the same limb, suggesting a possible causal relationship. Popliteal artery aneurysm secondary to osteochondroma is an uncommon cause of claudication in young patients. Early recognition is essential, as delayed diagnosis may result in complications such as thrombosis, embolization, or limb ischemia. Surgical management remains the treatment of choice and allows definitive resolution of the vascular lesion while preventing further complications. Abstract Submission Template
Keywords: Popliteal artery aneurysm; osteochondroma; vascular compression; pulsatile knee mass; vascular surgery.
