title: Hepatic artery aneurysm rupture: case report, imaging findings, and literature review.
abstract: Hepatic artery aneurysm rupture is a rare condition that requires urgent diagnosis and treatment in order to avoid a potentially fatal outcome. The clinical presentation is often non-specific. The classic triad of abdominal pain, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and obstructive jaundice occurs in less than one-third of cases. Physical examination is rarely helpful since bruits, masses or pulsations are infrequent. Radiologic imaging provides the best tool to early diagnosis. Angiography has historically been the gold standard of diagnosis and is needed prior to radiologic intervention. Computerized tomography, doppler ultrasound and even magnetic resonance imaging have all demonstrated visceral artery aneurysms with success. Conventional treatment has included surgical ligation and resection. More recently transcatheter embolization or even percutaneous transhepatic injection of thrombin has been successfully performed by the interventional radiologist. This article discusses the clinical presentation, imaging findings, and review of the literature of this elusive entity.
authors.affiliation: Siouxland Medical Education Foundation, Sioux City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Leon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed