CASE REPORT: HEPATIC ARTERY ANEURYSM.A RARE VISCERAL ANEURYSM

Hepatic artery aneurysm (HAA) is a rare disease (0.002%– 0.4%) but is a clinically important phenomenon [1]. HAAs are traditionally the second most common visceral aneurysms with an incidence of 20% and have the highest (44%) reported rate of rupture [2]. The clinical manifestations depending on the size of the aneurysm include epigastric pain, obstruction of biliary tract, rupture and death [3]. Imaging modalities like computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography have a valuable role in the early detection of HHA, its complications, and selecting appropriate treatments depending on the size and location of the aneurysms [4].The etiology of visceral artery aneurysms is mostly atherosclerotic. Trauma and inflammation may cause pseudoaneurysm formation, such as in case of an acute pancreatitis causing periarterial inflammation or vessel erosion from an adjacent pseudocyst[5,6]. Other conditions which are associated with hepatic artery aneurysms are medial degeneration, fibromuscular dysplasia and vasculitis [7]. Atherosclerotic aneurysms are typically extrahepatic while traumatic aneurysms or pseudoaneurysms are more commonly intrahepatic [8].