Peripheral arterial
aneurysms are rare vascular pathologies characterised by focal dilatation of at least 1.5-fold relative to the diameter of the native vessel. Primary arterial
aneurysms can affect any segment of the arterial trunk. Diagnostic tests include duplex sonography, CT and MR angiography, and digital subtraction angiography. It is essential that the influx and efflux to the
aneurysm should be mapped as precisely as possible. The most common type of peripheral arterial
aneurysms are
popliteal artery aneurysms, which frequently occur with aorta
aneurysms. Peripheral arterial
aneurysms are more common in patients with
connective tissue disease or
autoimmune disease (
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome,
Marfan syndrome, Behçet's disease). The current gold standard for
therapy is surgery, although endovascular
therapies have also been described. As the condition is rare, there is insufficient evidence to compare these approaches. Results from several register studies and single centre studies in patients with
popliteal aneurysms indicate that endovascular
therapy can give similar outcomes to open
therapy if patients are carefully selected. Nevertheless, open surgery remains the gold standard.
Therapy of
aneurysms of the extremities must consider individual treatment criteria, such as the morphology of the
aneurysm, its anatomical localisation - particularly with respect to mobilise segments, vascular efflux and the patient's general condition.