[Arterial fibromuscular dysplasia unveiled by a traumatic false aneurysm: a case report]

An inadvertent puncture of the brachio-cubital artery during an intravenous perfusion provoked a false aneurysm in a 59-year-old woman. The angiographic check-up disclosed a "pile of dishes" pattern on the humeral artery. Pathological examination of the resected false aneurysm confirmed the presence of an extensive medial fibromuscular dysplasia distant from the rupture area. This clinical case underlines the importance of a systematic study of all traumatic vascular specimens in order to find any possible occult disease responsible for the weakening of the vessel (J Mal Vasc 1999; 24: 377-380).