Rare case of isolated true aneurysm in the superficial femoral artery treated with endovascular intervention: a case report

BACKGROUND : Isolated true aneurysms in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) have rarely been reported. Most cases are undiagnosed until rupture or the occurrence of complications. CASE SUMMARY: A 36-year-old woman presented with a palpable, pulsating mass on her right thigh which had increased in size over 2 months. She also had a swollen right leg and mild claudication (Stage II in Rutherford classification). For 2 months, the patient was treated by manual massage, acupuncture, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in local clinics. Bed-side ultrasonography identified a 3.4-cm sized true aneurysm of the right SFA. There were no other aneurysms in arteries from head to toe. There was no evidence of atherosclerotic risk factors or connective tissue disease. The patient was successfully treated by a covered stent graft implantation without any complications. DISCUSSION: Isolated true aneurysm in the SFA is rare and tends to go undiagnosed especially in young women. Ultrasonography is an easy and useful diagnostic tool for differential diagnosis of thigh mass. In this case, endovascular treatment was safely applied for a true aneurysm without rupture.