BY DR. MICHAEL R. GO
A weakening in the wall of a blood vessel in your abdomen or sometimes in a leg which results in an abnormally dilated area. This dilated area is prone to:
- Clotting off and interrupting blood flow.
- Rupturing and causing serious bleeding.
- Compressing adjacent tissues.
Usually genetic, rarely occur
- Peripheral aneurysms are usually genetic; that is, you are born with the tendency to form them.
- Aneurysms in the abdomen, called splenic aneurysms, are uncommon, affecting 0.7% of the population.
- Peripheral aneurysms in the legs are very rare, affecting 0.007% of men, and even fewer women.
May require treatment
If you develop a peripheral aneurysm, it will not go away unless treated.
- Most peripheral aneurysms over 2 cm in diameter require treatment.
- In some cases even smaller aneurysms may require treatment