Dorsalis Pedis Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Aneurisma verdadeiro de artéria dorsal do pé: relato de caso

“…However, true aneurysms of the dorsal artery of the foot are very often associated with arterial hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and atherosclerosis. 1,5,9 In our case both smoking and hypertension were present.…”

“…The most frequently described clinical manifestations of aneurysms of the dorsal artery of the foot are a pulsating mass, painful or painless, sometimes associated with itching and discomfort. 5,7 In the case described here, the aneurysm was asymptomatic at onset and only began to cause pain and discomfort after progressive increase in the size of the pulsating mass on the dorsal aspect of the right foot, which may have been caused by compression of adjacent structures. The majority of patients with aneurysms of the dorsalis pedis artery were male (63%) and mean age was 55 years, 2 in contrast with our patient who was female and 49 years old.…”

“…True aneurysms of the dorsalis pedis artery are rare and their pathophysiology has not been elucidated. 5,8 According to Aragão et al, 1 just 24 cases have been described in the literature to date. However, the majority of aneurysms involving infrapopliteal arteries are generally of traumatic origin.…”

“…2,9 It is important to rule out traumas or procedures affecting the lower limbs, since the majority of cases of aneurysms of the dorsal artery of the foot are actually pseudoaneurysms rather than true aneurysms. 1,5,6 According to Legel et al, 3 Al-Omran, 10 and Kwon et al, 11 the major causes of pseudoaneurysms are venipuncture to draw blood, local traumas, orthopedic surgery, and vascular surgery. However, true aneurysms of the dorsal artery of the foot are very often associated with arterial hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and atherosclerosis.…”

“…1,2 Descriptions available in the literature are contained in case reports 3 and, since the first description published in 1907 by Cauff, 4 a variety of different treatment methods have been proposed. 5,6 However, the majority of dorsalis pedis aneurysms are pseudoaneurysms secondary to traumas. 3,7…”