Portal vein aneurysm due to traumatic etiology

Abstract

Portal vein aneurysm is a rare clinical entity. We describe a case of portal vein aneurysm due to traumatic etiology. Our patient had no signs suggestive of portal hypertension; the lesion was incidentally detected by ultrasound. It appears that these aneurysms can be found at any age and that there is no sexual preference. This pathology is increasingly encountered with the frequent use of radiological imaging modalities. INTRODUCTION Portal vein aneurysm is a rare clinical entity, with only 41 published cases in the English-language literature. Twentyfive of them were congenital(1). Portal venous aneurysms are described as focal dilatations of the portal venous system(2).Generally it was incidentally diagnosed during an investigation for dyspepsia(1). CASE PRESENTATION Our case was a 65-year-old male. He was suffering from flatulance and dyspepsia for 2 years. His past medical history was significant for a blunt trauma to the right upper quadrant of the abdomen he had experienced 19 years ago due to a traffic accident. Upper abdominal ultrasound imaging was carried out for a possible diagnosis of cholelithiasis. A venous aneurysm of 28x24 mm corresponding to the proximal zone of left branch of portal vein next to the falciform ligament. (Figures 1 and 2). Figure 1 Figure 1 Portal vein aneurysm due to traumatic etiology 2 of 4 Figure 2 Figure 2 Color Doppler ultrasound imaging revealed venous aneurysmal dilation with continuous flow pattern as in the case with portal flow (Figure 3).