[Popliteal venous aneurysm and recurrent pulmonary embolism. A case report]

Primary popliteal vein aneurysms are rare, in contrast with veinous dilatation secondary to trauma or complicating an arterio-veinous fistula. The authors report the case of recurrent pulmonary embolism in a 46 year old man with a popliteal vein aneurysm. This veinous malformation usually presents with pulmonary embolism due to migration of blood clot from the thrombosed aneurysmal sack. Ultrasonography and/or venography are diagnostic. Surgical care of the aneurysm should be preferred in young and active patients to partial interruption of the inferior vena cava or anticoagulant therapy alone.