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The popliteal artery entrapment (PAE) syndrome has been recognized as a cause of arterial occlusion in young people. It is the result of an anomaly of the relationship between the popliteal artery and the gastrocnemius muscle. Eight young health volunteers (16 legs) and six patients (10 legs) with suspected PAE underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Gradient-echo images were obtained in axial planes with the leg at rest and during active plantar flexion against resistance. Imaging at rest allowed identification of PAE signs in only one leg, which had an anomalous medial course of the popliteal artery. In the other cases, only the stress technique was able to show signal loss in the popliteal artery due to muscular compression (two legs) or the presence of accessory muscle slip around the vessel (two legs), as confirmed at surgery. MR imaging is therefore a useful technique for the diagnosis of PAE because of its capability of combining information obtainable with other modalities.

Objectives Venous aneurysms are uncommon. They can involve both superficial and deep venous systems. We hereby present a unique case of gastrocnemius venous aneurysm developed after compressive knee trauma. Report A large venous aneurysm in the left popliteal fossa was detected by chance in a 44-year-old woman one month after a compressive trauma to the posterior surface of the knee. Magnetic resonance-imaging of the same knee had documented normal venous anatomy one year earlier. The venous aneurysm involved the medial gastrocnemius vein near its confluence in the popliteal vein and was surgically resected. Histopathology evidenced a true venous aneurysm. The patient was discharged under oral anticoagulation for three months. At one year follow-up, neither complications nor new venous aneurysm development was detected. Conclusions An accurate evaluation of the venous system is always mandatory after limb traumas which may lead to post-traumatic venous pseudo-aneurysms, as well as more rarely, true venous aneurysms in the lower extremities.

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