Renal artery aneurysm

Changed by Yaïr Glick, 16 May 2023
Disclosures - updated 3 May 2023: Nothing to disclose

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Renal artery aneurysms (RAA) are considered the second most common visceral aneurysm (15-22%), the most common being splenic artery aneurysm (60%). 

Epidemiology

RAAsRenal artery aneurysms occur in ~0.1% of the population 6,8. They are more common in females 6 with a . The median age ofat diagnosis ofis 50 years 8.

Clinical presentation

Most cases are asymptomatic. Symptoms usually arise from rupture of an aneurysm, embolisation of the peripheral vascular bed or arterial thrombosis 1. Hypertension is associated with ~75% of cases of these aneurysms. Haematuria has also been reported in many cases.

In pregnancy, the acute, severe unilateral flank pain induced by maternal renal artery aneurysm rupture is usually attributed to a number of other, more common causes. This explains in part the high maternal and fetal mortality rate, which is why it should always be on the list of differential diagnoses, especially if followed by dropping blood pressure 10.

Pathology

Approximately 20% of cases are bilateral. Mostly, theMost aneurysms are saccular and tend to occur at the bifurcation of the main renal artery or first-order branch 8

Aetiology

Radiographic features

CT
  • non-contrast: soft tissue mass lesion in the region or course of renal artery

  • post-contrast: contrast-filled outpouching in the course of the renal artery

Angiography (DSA)

Aneurysms can be well detected and characterizedcharacterised by angiography, in terms of size, neck diameter and type.

Classification

One classification method proposed by Rundback et al is at follows 9

  • type 1: saccular aneurysms arising from the main renal artery or the large segmental branch: usually amendableamenable to an endovascular approach

  • type 2: fusiform aneurysms: mayrequire an open surgical approach

  • type 3: intra-lobar aneurysms arising from small segmental arteries or accessory arteries

Treatment and prognosis

Management depends on various factors like age, sex, severity of hypertension, anticipated pregnancy, and aneurysm morphology. In any young female with anticipated pregnancy, embolizationembolisation or endovascular intervention is suggested. Pregnancy; pregnancy-associated RAArenal artery aneurysm rupture is associated with 80%a high mortality for both mother and fetus.

Follow-up for renal artery aneurysm 5:

  • 1.0-1.5 cm: can be safely followed 6

    • follow-up in 1-2 years, as long as the patient is not premenopausal (see above)

  • >1.5 cm

    • consider surgical or endovascular repair

    • surgical treatment is recommended for aneurysms >2 cm in size

Modality of management depends on location:

  • branch RAArenal artery aneurysm: embolisation

  • main renal artery RAAaneurysm: ligation and bypass surgery, nephrectomy or stent placement

  • -<p><strong>Renal artery aneurysms (RAA)</strong> are considered the second most common visceral aneurysm (15-22%), most common being <a href="/articles/splenic-artery-aneurysm">splenic artery aneurysm</a> (60%). </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>RAAs occur in ~0.1% of the population <sup>6,8</sup>. They are more common in females <sup>6</sup> with a median age of diagnosis of 50 years <sup>8</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Most cases are asymptomatic. Symptoms usually arise from rupture of an aneurysm, embolisation of peripheral vascular bed or arterial thrombosis<sup> 1</sup>. <a href="/articles/hypertension">Hypertension</a> is associated with ~75% of cases of these aneurysms. Haematuria has also been reported in many cases.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Approximately 20% of cases are bilateral. Mostly, the aneurysms are saccular and tend to occur at the bifurcation of the main renal artery or first-order branch <sup>8</sup>. </p><h5>Aetiology</h5><ul>
  • -<li>
  • -<a href="/articles/fibromuscular-dysplasia-1">fibromuscular dysplasia</a> (FMD): 35%</li>
  • -<li>degenerative aneurysm: 25%</li>
  • -<li>
  • -<a href="/articles/vasculitis">vasculitides</a>, e.g. <a href="/articles/behcet-disease-2">Behcet disease</a>
  • -</li>
  • -<li>
  • -<a href="/articles/phakomatoses">phakomatoses</a>, e.g. <a href="/articles/tuberous-sclerosis">tuberous sclerosis</a>, <a href="/articles/neurofibromatosis-type-1">neurofibromatosis</a>
  • -</li>
  • -<li>intrinsic collagen deficiency, e.g. <a href="/articles/marfan-syndrome">Marfan syndrome</a>, <a href="/articles/ehlers-danlos-syndrome-2">Ehlers-Danlos syndrome</a>
  • -</li>
  • -<li>trauma <sup>1,2</sup>
  • -</li>
  • +<p><strong>Renal artery aneurysms (RAA)</strong> are the second most common visceral aneurysm (15-22%), the most common being <a href="/articles/splenic-artery-aneurysm">splenic artery aneurysm</a> (60%). </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Renal artery aneurysms occur in ~0.1% of the population <sup>6,8</sup>. They are more common in females <sup>6</sup> . The median age at diagnosis is 50 years <sup>8</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Most cases are asymptomatic. Symptoms usually arise from rupture of an aneurysm, embolisation of the peripheral vascular bed or arterial thrombosis<sup> 1</sup>. <a href="/articles/hypertension">Hypertension</a> is associated with ~75% of cases of these aneurysms. Haematuria has also been reported in many cases.</p><p>In pregnancy, the acute, severe unilateral flank pain induced by maternal renal artery aneurysm rupture is usually attributed to a number of other, more common causes. This explains in part the high maternal and fetal mortality rate, which is why it should always be on the list of differential diagnoses, especially if followed by dropping blood pressure <sup>10</sup>.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>Approximately 20% of cases are bilateral. Most aneurysms are saccular and tend to occur at the bifurcation of the main renal artery or first-order branch <sup>8</sup>. </p><h5>Aetiology</h5><ul>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/fibromuscular-dysplasia-1">fibromuscular dysplasia</a> (FMD): 35%</p></li>
  • +<li><p>degenerative aneurysm: 25%</p></li>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/vasculitis">vasculitides</a>, e.g. <a href="/articles/behcet-disease-2">Behcet disease</a></p></li>
  • +<li><p><a href="/articles/phakomatoses">phakomatoses</a>, e.g. <a href="/articles/tuberous-sclerosis">tuberous sclerosis</a>, <a href="/articles/neurofibromatosis-type-1">neurofibromatosis</a></p></li>
  • +<li><p>intrinsic collagen deficiency, e.g. <a href="/articles/marfan-syndrome">Marfan syndrome</a>, <a href="/articles/ehlers-danlos-syndrome-2">Ehlers-Danlos syndrome</a></p></li>
  • +<li><p>trauma <sup>1,2</sup></p></li>
  • -<li>non-contrast: soft tissue mass lesion in the region or course of <a href="/articles/renal-artery">renal artery</a>
  • -</li>
  • -<li>post-contrast: contrast-filled outpouching in the course of the <a href="/articles/renal-artery">renal artery</a>
  • -</li>
  • -</ul><h5>Angiography (DSA)</h5><p>Aneurysms can be well detected and characterized by angiography, in terms of size, neck diameter and type.</p><h4>Classification</h4><p>One classification method proposed by Rundback et al is at follows <sup>9</sup></p><ul>
  • -<li>
  • -<strong>type 1</strong>: saccular aneurysms arising from the main renal artery or the large segmental branch: usually amendable to an endovascular approach</li>
  • -<li>
  • -<strong>type 2:</strong> fusiform aneurysms: may require an open surgical approach</li>
  • -<li>
  • -<strong>type 3: </strong>intra-lobar aneurysms arising from small segmental arteries or accessory arteries </li>
  • -</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Management depends on various factors like age, sex, severity of hypertension, anticipated pregnancy, and aneurysm morphology. In any young female with anticipated pregnancy, embolization or endovascular intervention is suggested. Pregnancy-associated RAA rupture is associated with 80% mortality.</p><p>Follow-up for renal artery aneurysm <sup>5</sup>:</p><ul>
  • -<li>1.0-1.5 cm: can be safely followed <sup>6</sup><ul><li>follow-up in 1-2 years, as long as the patient is not premenopausal</li></ul>
  • -</li>
  • -<li>&gt;1.5 cm<ul>
  • -<li>consider surgical or endovascular repair</li>
  • -<li>surgical treatment is recommended for aneurysms &gt;2 cm in size</li>
  • +<li><p>non-contrast: soft tissue mass lesion in the region or course of <a href="/articles/renal-artery">renal artery</a></p></li>
  • +<li><p>post-contrast: contrast-filled outpouching in the course of the <a href="/articles/renal-artery">renal artery</a></p></li>
  • +</ul><h5>Angiography (DSA)</h5><p>Aneurysms can be well detected and characterised by angiography, in terms of size, neck diameter and type.</p><h4>Classification</h4><p>One classification method proposed by Rundback et al is at follows <sup>9</sup></p><ul>
  • +<li><p><strong>type 1</strong>: saccular aneurysms arising from the main renal artery or the large segmental branch: usually amenable to an endovascular approach</p></li>
  • +<li><p><strong>type 2:</strong> fusiform aneurysms: may require an open surgical approach</p></li>
  • +<li><p><strong>type 3: </strong>intra-lobar aneurysms arising from small segmental arteries or accessory arteries</p></li>
  • +</ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Management depends on various factors like age, sex, severity of hypertension, anticipated pregnancy, and aneurysm morphology. In any young female with anticipated pregnancy, embolisation or endovascular intervention is suggested; pregnancy-associated renal artery aneurysm rupture is associated with a high mortality for both mother and fetus.</p><p>Follow-up for renal artery aneurysm <sup>5</sup>:</p><ul>
  • +<li>
  • +<p>1.0-1.5 cm: can be safely followed <sup>6</sup></p>
  • +<ul><li><p>follow-up in 1-2 years, as long as the patient is not premenopausal (see above)</p></li></ul>
  • +</li>
  • +<li>
  • +<p>&gt;1.5 cm</p>
  • +<ul>
  • +<li><p>consider surgical or <a href="/articles/endovascular-aneurysm-repair" title="Endovascular aneurysm repair">endovascular repair</a></p></li>
  • +<li><p>surgical treatment is recommended for aneurysms &gt;2 cm in size</p></li>
  • -<li>branch RAA: embolisation</li>
  • -<li>main renal artery RAA: ligation and bypass surgery, nephrectomy or stent placement</li>
  • +<li><p>branch renal artery aneurysm: embolisation</p></li>
  • +<li><p>main renal artery aneurysm: ligation and bypass surgery, nephrectomy or stent placement</p></li>

References changed:

  • 10. Augustin G, Kulis T, Kello N, Ivkovic V. Ruptured Renal Artery Aneurysm in Pregnancy and Puerperium: Literature Review of 53 Cases. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2019;299(4):923-31. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-019-05087-y">doi:10.1007/s00404-019-05087-y</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30739174">Pubmed</a>

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