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Descending thoracic aortic aneurysm presenting as left sided hemorrhagic pleural effusion
P Sengupta1, B Mitra, Kanchan Saha
1Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata.
The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
|August 19, 2007
Summary
Descending thoracic aortic aneurysms are rarely symptomatic. This case highlights a smoker presenting with hemoptysis and pleural effusion, mimicking lung cancer, emphasizing the need for broader differential diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta are often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally.
- Symptomatic presentations typically involve chest pain or mediastinal compression.
Observation:
- A 69-year-old smoker presented with cough, hemoptysis, and massive left-sided painless hemorrhagic pleural effusion.
- Imaging revealed a large descending thoracic aorta aneurysm infiltrating the left lung.
Findings:
- The clinical presentation mimicked bronchogenic carcinoma.
- Aneurysm infiltration of the lung led to hemoptysis and pleural effusion.
Implications:
- Descending thoracic aortic aneurysm should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients with hemoptysis and pleural effusion.
- This case underscores the importance of considering vascular pathology in respiratory symptoms, especially in smokers.
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