Distribution of the etiological factors and symptoms of true aneurysms of subclavian and axillary arteries

Results Chief complaint was ischemic symptoms in 2 (25%) patients, non-disturbing mass in 3 (38%), feeling of compression in 2 (25%) and bleeding in 1 (12%) patient. Etiological factors include atherosclerosis in 5 patients (62%), a probable connective tissue disorder in 1 patient (13%) and idiopathic in 2 patients (25%). In these last 2 patients no atherosclerotic changes were prominent histopathologically and no other factors were identified; thus considered as idiopathic. One patient with a probable connective tissue disorder had no histopathological diagnosis. But he was phenotypically marfanoid and his past medical history was significant for surgery due to iliac artery aneurysm. Contrasted CT examination revealed no other aneurismatic segment preoperatively. Past medical history of another patient was also significant for surgery of contralateral axillary artery aneurysm. But histopathologic examination revealed atherosclerotic changes. Therefore this patient was not considered as having connective tissue disorder. One patient with ruptured axillary artery aneurysm was operated on emergently with a chief finding of bleeding.