The Pulsating Stent Sign in May-Thurner Syndrome.

Abstract

To report a case of a patient with May-Thurner syndrome who underwent endovenous stenting and was found to have pulsating arterial compression on the venous stent. A 74-year-old man presented with 18 months of progressive right thigh and calf edema. After an extensive work-up, the patient underwent a venogram with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), revealing compression of the right iliac vein by the external iliac artery and psoas muscle. Following stent deployment, fluoroscopy revealed extrinsic compression by an artery, but IVUS confirmed sufficient stent expansion. On follow-up, there was a significant resolution of right limb edema, and adjacent arterial pulsation/compression was deemed non-significant. The choice of venous stents is essential to prevent collapse from extrinsic compression, such as that from an adjacent artery. Carefully choosing venous stents is essential to ensure stent patency in the face of external compression.