Arterial dysplasia

Overview

Venous aneurysms are rare and usually develop following trauma. This report describes an aneurysm of the internal jugular vein that was associated with dysplasia of the cervical arteries, in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). The finding of neurofibromatous tissue in the wall of the aneurysm as well as in small veins, suggested that the venous aneurysm was caused by the neurofibromatous invasion.

Symptoms

• Brain hemorrhage
• Progressive mental deterioration
• Occipital calcification
• Leukoencephalopathy
• Dysplastic external carotid arteries

Treatment

Surgical treatment or percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty is indicated only for those patients with symptomatic carotid arterial disease. FMD, when it produces minimally stenotic lesions — even those affecting a long segment of vessel — may be managed conservatively with antiplatelet therapy, anticoagulant therapy, or both.