Mycotic aneurysm

Case contributed by Bruno Di Muzio
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Lower abdominal pain. White cell count 11.9 (ref. 4.0-11.0). ?colitis ?diverticulitis.

Patient Data

Age: 75 years
Gender: Male
ct
This study is a stack
Axial C+ portal
venous phase
This study is a stack
Coronal C+ portal
venous phase
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Info

There is a saccular aneurysmal dilatation extending anterolaterally on the left side of the infrarenal abdominal aorta, with a neck of 2.2 cm (longitudinal), depth of 2.3 cm (transverse) and longitudinal extension of 3.5 cm. A thick fat stranding surrounds this vascular dilation and, contrasting to the remainder aorta, no atheromatous calcifications are present in its walls. Inferiorly in the abdominal aorta, a intimal flap with atheromatous calcification is identified crossing the center of the opacified aortic lumen and may represent a chronic dissection.

The liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and adrenal glands are normal. No abnormality of the bowel is identified. There is no free fluid or free gas.​

Selected images of the...

ct
Axial
non-contrast
Coronal
non-contrast
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Info

Selected images of the previous CT 5 days prior

Exams performed in the community 5 days prior to the presentation to the ED. Non-contrast images demonstrating the same saccular aneurysm, but with significantly smaller dimensions. 

dsa
Frontal
Aorta
Frontal
Aorta
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Info

Endovascular repair was proposed and performed. 

Case Discussion

The diagnosis of a mycotic aneurysm was achieved based on the imaging and clinical data. These aneurysms are caused by infection of the arterial wall, usually bacterial. It is a complication of the hematogenous spread of bacterial infection, classically from the heart. 

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