The coeliac aneurysm: a rare cause of abdominal pain.

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) represent 0.1-0.2% of all vascular aneurysms. For VAA's etiology, congenital or arteriosclerotic factors, media defects, infections, vasculitis and trauma are discussed. Ultrasound, CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging underline the diagnosis of VAA. The low perioperative morbidity and mortality and the excellent surgical longterm results justify the prophylactic therapy also from asymptomatic VAA because the mortality of ruptured VAA is close to 100%. The radiological interventional treatment is indicated for only selected patients whereas an advantage is not verified yet.