Sciatic pain from an aneurysm of the internal iliac artery

A 66-year-old man suffered from sciatic pain in the right leg for many years. As a result he was operated upon 4 years ago but without obtaining permanent help. In spite of the operation and angiography the correct diagnosis was made by means of rectal palpation and computerized tomography. The diagnosis was confirmed by further angiography. The cause of the sciatic pain was a large aneurysm of the internal iliac artery which was subsequently operated upon. Proximal ligation of the internal iliac artery was performed and the pain disappeared completely post operatively.