[False aneurysm of the external iliac artery revealing Behçet's disease]

Behçet's disease is a vasculitis of unknown etiology. Vascular involvement is rare, but may be inaugural in many cases. We report a case of Behçet's disease revealed by a symptomatic pseudo-aneurysm of the external iliac artery. The symptomatology was non-specific. Ultrasound Doppler and computed tomographic angiography were essential for diagnosis. The pseudo-aneurysm was managed by endovascular treatment. Corticosteroid and immunosuppressant therapy were administrated after surgery.

[False aneurysm of the carotid artery revealing Behçet disease]

Vascular involvement in Behçet's disease often present as venous thrombosis. Arterial damage is rare. We report a case of Behçet's disease occurring in a 40-year-old woman revealed by a false aneurysm of the left common carotid artery. The intervention consisted in a prosthetic graft after endovascular control. After a 2-year follow-up period, the patient did not develop any postoperative complication.

[Giant aneurysm of the splenic artery. Case report and review of the literature]

INTRODUCTION

Giant splenic artery aneurysm is exceptional. We report a case and review the literature to ascertain the characteristic epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features of this condition.

CASE REPORT

A 62-year-old man was admitted for epigastric pain. Physical examination found an epigastric pulsatile mass. A contrast computed scan of the abdomen revealed a 10-cm thrombosed aneurysm of the splenic artery. An abdominal aortography, including selective celiac angiography, confirmed the presence of a 10-cm aneurysm originating from the medial third of the splenic artery. The patient underwent open surgical repair. The proximal and the distal splenic artery were ligated from within the aneurysm. The postoperative period was uneventful.

CONCLUSION

Giant aneurysm of the splenic artery is a rare clinical entity. These aneurysms differ from usual splenic artery aneurysms in several ways involving the predominant gender, localization on the splenic artery, clinical presentation, and treatment.

[Arterial complications of Behcet's disease. Report of 13 cases]

Vascular involvement, usually venous thrombosis, is common in Behçet's disease. Arterial manifestations, usually aneurysms or more rarely occlusion, are less common. We analyzed 13 cases of Behçet's disease with arterial complications. This fourth series in the literature was collected over 11 years. There were 12 men and 1 woman, mean age 41 +/- 7 years. Mean delay to arterial complications was 5.8 years (maximum 20 years) after the first sign of the disease. In the 13 patients in our series, there were a total of 18 arterial lesions, including one aneurysm and one stenosis of the internal carotid artery. There were 2 cases (10%) with lesions of the aorta (aneurysms). Approximately half of the arterial lesions (7/18) involved the femoral artery. There were 11 localizations on the femoropopliteal axis (11 aneurysms). One aneurysm of the humeral artery was the only localization in the upper limb. Vascular involvement was limited to arterial lesions in 9/13 patients with multiple lesions at different localizations in 2 patients. In two others, a second arterial localization occurred secondarily. All patients except one were operated. Mid-term complications are: 1 death and 4 thrombi including 3 with good results after reoperation. In these patients with Behçet's disease, risk of severe complications is important, requiring long-term surveillance.

[False aneurysm of the abdominal aorta of hydatid origin]

The rupture of hydatid cysts into the abdominal aorta is an exceptional and serious complication of the hydatid disease. We report a case of hydatid false-aneurysm of the abdominal aorta, explored by US Doppler, C.T. and arteriography.