Pulmonary embolism due to popliteal vein aneurysm during pregnancy induced by in vitro fertilization.

Popliteal vein aneurysms (PVAs) are rare but may cause severe and even fatal complications, such as pulmonary embolism (PE). A woman at the eighth week of pregnancy came to our attention because of a thrombosis of a previously undetected left PVA, diagnosed after a PE episode. Surgery was delayed until after delivery and breastfeeding, during which anticoagulant therapy was established.

A true aneurysm of the zygomatic orbital artery: first case report in the literature.

A 33-year-old man presented with a pulsatile mass in the left temporal region; about 1 year before the current presentation, the swelling had arisen on the upper lateral border of the orbital arch and increased in recent months. His medical history was negative for accidental or iatrogenic head injury. Color echo Doppler and angio-computed tomography demonstrated a fusiform aneurysm of the zygomatic orbital artery, a branch of the superficial temporal artery. Blood tests were negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C (HCV), and hepatitis B (HBV) markers. Aneurysmectomy under local anesthesia was performed. Histology of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of a true aneurysm measuring 8.4 × 5.7 mm, which showed no atherosclerotic degeneration of the vessel walls; the lumen was filled by a recent thrombus but without inflammatory cells. Surgical treatment is indicated for the prevention of rupture, the relief of pain when present, and the removal of facial defects. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case in the literature of a true aneurysm of the zygomatic orbital artery.

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome in a young girl: case report of a rare finding.

The popliteal artery (PA) entrapment syndrome, a rare cause of arterial thrombosis, is most often encountered in young male athletes. Here, we report a very unusual case of PA entrapment syndrome in a 14-year-old girl who presented with a 1-month history of calf claudication to our observation facility. Diagnostic work-up revealed obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and an aberrant accessory slip of the medial head of gastrocnemius around the PA. Arterial echo color Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomographic angiography studies were performed. Surgical treatment involved revascularization with resection of the medial head of gastrocnemius, the cause of the arterial entrapment, and enlargement angioplasty using an autologous saphenous vein patch, in combination with antiplatelet therapy, resulting in restitution ad integrum of the affected limb and, finally, an improved quality of life of the patient. This case underscores the importance of clinical suspicion, diagnosis, and treatment of lower-limb claudication in very young patients presenting with unusual symptoms. If missed, the condition may evolve dramatically. Prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment are key to complete recovery and the prevention of irreversible complications that may result in limb loss.

Parkes-Weber syndrome and giant superficial femoral artery aneurysm. Treatment by endovascular therapy and follow-up of 8 years.

Congenital vascular malformations represent a wide number of diseases with a great variability of clinical features. The association between congenital vascular malformations and peripheral aneurysms is very rare. The present study reports a case of giant superficial femoral artery aneurysm (7-cm-long) associated with Parkes-Weber syndrome (capillary malformation, multiple arteriovenous fistulas [AVFs], skeletal hypertrophy of the affected limb) treated by positioning two covered self-expandable endoprostheses after embolization of AVFs with Gianturco coils. The peri- and postoperative course was uneventful and the postprocedural angiography showed the complete exclusion of the aneurysm sac. At last follow-up, after 87 months, the duplex scan and computed tomography scan showed regular patency of the vessels with thrombosis of the aneurysm sac and the presence of a large number of AVFs. The association between Parkes-Weber syndrome and peripheral aneurysms represents a very unusual entity. The lack of evidence does not allow the establishment of the most suitable treatment for this disease. Endovascular approach associated with previous embolization of AVFs may represent a valid alternative to traditional surgical repair, which is still burdened by a high percentage of complications and failures.