Surgeons Successfully Remove Rare Ankle Small Saphenous Vein Aneurysm

Surgeons have reported the successful surgical excision of an exceptionally rare small saphenous vein aneurysm located distal to the ankle joint. According to a case report published in the journal BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, venous aneurysms situated in the distal small saphenous vein beyond the ankle joint are considered extremely uncommon occurrences within routine clinical practice. The documentation of this case provides a factual clinical reference to guide medical teams in identifying and treating similar atypical peripheral vascular presentations.

The patient presented clinically with a palpable, painless mass situated over the left lateral malleolus. To investigate the superficial swelling, clinicians performed Doppler ultrasonography, which revealed focal aneurysmal dilatation directly involving the distal segment of the small saphenous vein. This imaging assessment established the preliminary clinical diagnosis of a distal small saphenous vein aneurysm prior to operative intervention.

Following diagnosis, the medical team carried out complete surgical excision of the aneurysmal sac. The patient experienced a smooth postoperative recovery without adverse complications noted throughout the clinical follow-up period.

Reflecting on the findings, the clinicians concluded that venous ultrasound must be integrated into differential examinations when evaluating superficial masses located around the ankle region.

Subject of Research: Surgical excision and ultrasound diagnosis of a rare distal small saphenous vein aneurysm

Article Title: Small saphenous vein aneurysm at the distal ankle: a case report

Article References: Li, Y., Yu, M., & Mo, A. (2026). Small saphenous vein aneurysm at the distal ankle: a case report. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-026-06973-5

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12872-026-06973-5

Keywords: small saphenous vein, venous aneurysm, lateral malleolus, ankle mass, Doppler ultrasonography, surgical excision, case report, BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, vascular surgery, aneurysmal dilatation, aneurysmal sac, differential diagnosis, venous ultrasound, peripheral vascular disease, postoperative recovery, superficial mass