Popliteal Vein Aneurysm Masquerading as a Baker's Cyst Leading to Pulmonary Embolism

Vascular Medicine Patient Information Page: Popliteal vein aneurysm

“…A popliteal vein aneurysm is a ‘true’ aneurysm involving all three layers of the blood vessel wall, which are called the intima, media, and adventitia. 1 The exact size to define a popliteal vein aneurysm remains controversial, 2 but generally is around 1.5 cm or larger. Experts classify aneurysms according to their shape: either fusiform (vessel expands from all sides) or saccular (vessel wall protrudes from one side), as shown in Figure 1.…”

“…However, since popliteal vein aneurysms are rare, no consensus exists on the standard surgical approach and there is little clinical research available. Clinicians will develop a personalized treatment plan according to the aneurysm size and other co-existing Vascular Medicine 28 (2) medical conditions. Postoperative follow-up is important to monitor for any subsequent problems.…”