Leiomyosarcoma of the thoracic aorta associated with dissecting aneurysm

An autopsy case report of leiomyosarcoma of the thoracic aorta is presented. The patient was a 75-year-old Japanese woman who complained of hypertension, melena and lumbago. The autopsy revealed severe occlusion of the thoracic aorta due to the tumor. Histologically the tumor consisted of fascicular proliferation of atypical fusiform cells. Metastases were seen in the bilateral adrenal glands, pancreatic tail and bones (vertebrae and femur). At the distal portion of the aortic tumor, there was a secondary dissecting aneurysm.