Middle colic artery aneurysm: a case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of a ruptured middle colic artery (MCA) aneurysm in a 48-year-old previously healthy man. Coil embolization was attempted without success. The patient then underwent resection of the MCA and the transverse colon with a satisfactory outcome. Twenty-six previously published cases dating back to 1930 were reviewed, revealing the cause of the MCA aneurysm to be idiopathic in most cases. However, necrotizing arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, and hypertension have been associated. The aneurysm is commonly managed with laparotomy, as well as arterial resection with or without transverse colectomy, although transcatheter arterial embolization has been successful in four published cases.