Ovarian artery pseudoaneurysm: Diagnosis by Doppler sonography and treatment with transcatheter embolization

Although pseudoaneurysms are rare, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a postoperative pelvic mass. In addition, color Doppler and pulsed-Doppler ultrasonography are useful adjuncts in the imaging of these masses, which may be treated successfully by embolization. In the case presented, the complex right adnexal mass was an unexpected finding in a patient status post salpingo-oopherectomy. As the ovarian tumor had been malignant, initial suspicion was that the pelvic mass was related to this. When it was interrogated with Doppler ultrasonography, it was clear only that the mass was related to arterial injury. This allowed appropriate steps to be taken to prevent the potentially life-threatening complications associated with a post-surgical pseudoaneurysm. The success of arterial embolization made it possible to avoid the increased morbidity of surgery, and allow the patient to recover immediately.