False aneurysm of the femoral artery: computed tomographic and ultrasound appearances

Twenty-five patients presenting with pulsating masses in the groin, 1-10 days after diagnostic arterial catheterisation, were investigated by computed tomography (CT), ultrasound (US) or both. False aneurysm was demonstrated in 10, four by CT alone, three by US alone and three by both CT and US. Both methods allowed rapid accurate and non-invasive diagnosis of this uncommon complication of arterial catheterisation.