Giant venous aneurysm associated with hypogastric arteriovenous malformation

Venous aneurysms are extremely rare. They may be congenital or acquired in origin and occasionally related to arteriovenous communications. A 58-year-old man complained of dull left lower quadrant pain and constipation. On physical examination a soft deep mass was palpated. Ultrasonogram and CT scan revealed a cystic formation in the pelvic cavity. Angiograms disclosed an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) at the pelvic floor draining into a large cavity. The patient was successfully managed by intraoperative selective embolization of the AVM and partial resection of a 10.6 x 8 x 6.7 cm venous aneurysm. The histopathologic studies of the wall confirmed a venous structure. Venous dilatation has been reported in high flow vein grafts, blood access V fistulas and rarely, proximal to traumatic AV fistulas of the lower extremities. The etiology of the present case is probably congenital, being to the best of our knowledge, the first case affecting the hypogastric territory, reported in the English literature.