Surgery for rare aneurysm associated with colorectal cancer

The occurrence of concomitant aortic aneurysm and colorectal cancer is a rare medical entity, and controversy surrounds its optimal treatment. We report a case of rectal cancer and concomitant aneurysm from the ascending aorta to the common iliac artery. As with DeBakey type I aortic dissecting aneurysm, our patient was treated by rectal cancer resection, with preservation of the anus (Dixon operation) under controlled hypotension. Blood pressure was maintained at 80-90/50-60 mmHg and the pulse at 70-90 beats/min. The pathological examination of the surgical specimen showed a poorly differentiated T3N0 tumor. The patient had an uneventful recovery without aneurysm rupture, and was discharged from hospital on postoperative day 15 after 3 d adjuvant chemotherapy with oxaliplatin combined with calcium folinate and fluorouracil. The patient was given six courses of adjuvant chemotherapy in 6 mo, without recurrence or metastasis, and the aneurysm was still stable after 2 years follow-up.