Idiopathic Intrahepatic Artery Aneurysm Presenting as Acute Hemorrhagic Cholecystitis

Abstract

Intrahepatic artery aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm is an unusual condition encountered clinically that accounts for a very small part of all visceral artery aneurysm cases. True incidence of primary or spontaneous intrahepatic artery aneurysm is difficult to be verified and has been rarely reported. For intrahepatic artery aneurysm/pseudoaneurysm, the diagnosis and management are challenging owing to the lower incidence and occult or various presentations. Due to the insidious course, patients with such aneurysms often have a higher risk of rupture, sometimes causing a catastrophic bleeding situation. Herein, we present a case of a 20-year-old woman with idiopathic left intrahepatic artery aneurysm with initial presentation mimicking acute hemorrhagic cholecystitis. Following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, intermittent upper gastrointestinal bleeding occurred. At the second radiologic study, left lateral-superior subsegmental hepatic artery aneurysm was detected. After endovascular treatment, the patient recovered without complications. To avoid delayed diagnosis, we suggest that hepatic artery aneurysm/pseudoaneurysm should always be considered when there is no usual cause of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding.