Median nerve compression by a large cephalic vein aneurysm—a case report

The term aneurysm is derived from the Greek word aneurysma, meaning “a widening.” In current vascular surgery practice, an aneurysm is defined as a permanent localized dilatation of any vessel, having at least a 50 % increase in diameter compared with the expected normal diameter (Suggested standards for reporting on arterial aneurysms; Johnston et al., J Vasc Surg, 13: 452–458, 1991). Generally, this term is used for arteries as it is more common in them, but it can also be used for veins which are extremely rare presentation. In our case, a middle-aged female presented with complaints of swelling over the right mid-forearm flexor aspect with difficulty in flexing her wrist and paraesthesia over the right index finger and thumb. The patient was examined and diagnosed as a case of cephalic vein aneurysm compressing the median nerve. She underwent surgical resection of the involved segment of the cephalic vein. Venous aneurysm is a rare disorder and till date only few cases have been reported in English literature; however, its possibility should be kept when dealing with a subcutaneous mass in upper limb.