Iatrogenic Axillary Pseudoaneurysm Caused by Ultrasound-guided, Vacuum-assisted Biopsy of the Axillary Lymph Node: A Case Report

Author(s): Lee, Shimwoo; McWilliams, Justin P; Lee-Felker, Stephanie A | Abstract: Arterial pseudoaneurysms are contained ruptures of the arterial wall that require prompt intervention. Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms may result from various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Iatrogenic axillary pseudoaneurysms are quite rare, with few reported cases in the literature. We report a case of a 45-year-old woman who sustained an axillary pseudoaneurysm after an ultrasound-guided, vacuum-assisted biopsy of the axillary lymph node. An arteriovenous fistula developed concomitantly. Despite two image-guided treatments, thrombin injection and endovascular coil embolization, the pseudoaneurysm had persistent flow and was ultimately surgically resected at the time when the patient underwent mastectomy for breast cancer.