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Infected abdominal aortic aneurysm presenting with sudden appearance: diagnostic importance of serial computed
1Department of Surgery, Teikyo Ichihara Hospital, 3426-3 Anesaki, Ichihara City, Chiba 299-0111, Japan. yasuhart-tky@umin.ac.jp
Abstract:
The case of an 86-year-old man with an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) that developed suddenly over 3 weeks is presented here. Previous reports on the diagnosis of infected AAA have focused mainly on the findings of single computed tomography (CT). These include the presence of a saccular aneurysm with an irregular lumen, perianeurysmal fluid, gas and/or hematoma, osteomyelitis in adjacent vertebral bodies, disruption of intimal calcification, and obscuring of the aortic wall. Our case report presents a useful diagnostic technique for the diagnosis of infected AAA, emphasizing the importance of serial CT for suspected cases, even if the initial scan does not demonstrate the findings listed above.
Insights
Diagnosing infected abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) can be challenging. Serial computed tomography (CT) scans are crucial for accurate diagnosis, especially when initial findings are inconclusive.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Radiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Infected abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are rare but life-threatening conditions.
- Diagnosis often relies on computed tomography (CT) findings, which can be subtle.
Observation:
- A case of an 86-year-old male with a rapidly developing infected AAA over 3 weeks is presented.
- Initial CT scans may not reveal typical signs of infected AAA.
Findings:
- Standard CT findings for infected AAA include saccular shape, irregular lumen, perianeurysmal fluid/gas/hematoma, adjacent osteomyelitis, and obscured aortic wall.
- This report highlights the utility of serial CT scans in diagnosing infected AAA.
Implications:
- Serial CT imaging is essential for suspected infected AAA, even with initially non-diagnostic scans.
- Early and accurate diagnosis of infected AAA can improve patient outcomes.
- This case underscores the importance of a high index of suspicion and repeated imaging in complex vascular cases.