The 100-year evolution of the isolated internal iliac artery aneurysm

Isolated internal iliac artery aneurysms (IIIAA) are a rare form of aneurysm. The incidence increases with age, and the prevalence is higher in men. The clinical presentation can vary, and standard treatment protocols are not established. The first case of an IIIAA was described more than 100 years ago. The purpose of the study is to summarize the various clinical presentations and treatment options that have been reported in the literature in the past 100 years.

Literature about IIIAA was reviewed using the electronic databank PubMed. All case reports and case series were analyzed, and we included our own data with 2 case reports.

Over time, IIIAA diagnosis increasingly resulted from asymptomatic incidental findings on radiologic studies. Various clinical presentations included abdominal pain, back pain, rectal bleeding, hydronephrosis with renal failure, hematuria, and free rupture with shock. Rupture has a mortality rate of 53%. IIIAAs were more common on the left (61.8% left, 27.3% right, 10.9% bilateral). Treatments include open surgical repair and endovascular repair using a variety of methods. One article reported a hybrid method using both endovascular and open surgical technique.

Since its first description 100 years ago, we have gained knowledge about the natural history of IIIAA. Multiple treatment options have been described, but long-term outcome needs further investigation.