Isolated left innominate vein aneurysm: A rare cause of mediastinal widening

Brachiocephalic vein aneurysm: a systematic review of the literature

Brachiocephalic vein aneurysms are rare lesions with only 36 cases reported in the literature. They usually present incidentally as mediastinal widening on chest X-ray, with thromboembolism or mass effect on adjacent structures, or rupture. Imaging is usually sufficient to identify and characterize the aneurysm, however, certain diagnostic pitfalls can lead to misinterpretation and misdiagnosis. Exploratory surgery is sometimes needed to confirm diagnosis. Brachiocephalic vein aneurysms have been treated both conservatively with watchful waiting, antithrombotic therapy or anticoagulation as well as surgically depending on patient presentation and aneurysm characteristics. Endovascular treatment is also becoming a therapeutic option. Prognosis following surgical treatment is excellent with no reported cases of recurrence. The present systematic review aims to describe the etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management and outcomes of brachiocephalic vein aneurysms.

Incidental diagnosis of a silent brachiocephalic vein aneurysm and its surgical treatment

Brachiocephalic vein aneurysm is an extremely rare clinical entity, with a limited number of case reports in the literature. We report the case of a 74-year-old woman with a left brachiocephalic vein aneurysm (3 × 3 × 6.5 cm) that was discovered fortuitously by contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography. Surgical intervention was performed simultaneously during tricuspid valve surgery with coronary artery bypass grafting. This paper discusses the details of our case, the surgical treatment of brachiocephalic vein aneurysms, and the different treatment options.

Brachiocephalic Venous Aneurysm Mimicking Metastatic Cervical Lymphadenopathy in a Patient with Gastric Cancer: A Case Report

Brachiocephalic venous aneurysm (BVA) development is an extremely rare, particularly as a primary vascular disorder. BVAs may be misinterpreted as lymphadenopathies owing to the variable degrees of enhancement seen in imaging studies, especially among patients with underlying malignancy. We report a BVA that mimicked lymph node metastasis on CT in a 60-year-old female who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy for stomach cancer. After follow-up chest CT with different bolus times and Doppler ultrasonography, a venous aneurysm originating from the brachiocephalic vein was diagnosed. We emphasize that, to make an accurate diagnosis, physicians should be aware of the potential diagnostic pitfalls and have a high index of suspicion for BVA when encountering certain lesions in the cervical area.

Surgical treatment for rare isolated left innominate vein aneurysms

Thoracic venous aneurysms are rare, with the fusiform superior vena cava being the most commonly reported. Isolated innominate vein aneurysms are extremely rare. Herein, we report the case of a saccular left innominate vein aneurysm with an intraluminal thrombus treated with surgical excision and simple reconstruction of the innominate vein.

Diagnosing thoracic venous aneurysm: A contemporary imaging perspective

Thoracic venous aneurysms are a rare clinical entity and contrast-enhanced computed tomography has been the cornerstone of their diagnosis. We are reporting a rare case of isolated left brachiocephalic vein aneurysm, which was surgically managed, highlighting the role of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging as a definitive diagnostic modality in this patient.

Brachiocephalic venous aneurysm with unusual clinical observations

Thoracic venous aneurysm is an extremely rare condition. This report describes the case of a 70-year-old woman with a left brachiocephalic venous aneurysm that caused recurrent nerve paralysis. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and venography revealed a venous aneurysm, 4 cm in size, located adjacent to the venous angle. Anticoagulation therapy was started, and 1-1/2 months later, the aneurysm greatly decreased in size and showed marked calcification along its periphery. Venous aneurysms that shrink after anticoagulation therapy are exceptionally rare. The clinical features of this condition have been briefly reviewed.