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Published on: August 1, 2025
Intimal Sarcoma of the Descending Aorta Mimicking Aortitis
Angela Pucci1, Andrea De Martino2, Maurizio Levantino2
1Division of Pathology, University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Abstract:
We describe a 74-year-old male patient with an intimal sarcoma of the descending aorta mimicking aortitis. The patient presented with lower back pain, fever, and increased C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) serum levels, together with Staphylococcus epidermidis-positive blood cultures. These findings, together with evidence of a 49-mm pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta, caused us to suspect aortitis. However, postoperative histology and immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of an intimal aortic sarcoma. At the 8-month follow-up, local recurrence of the neoplasm and lung metastases were noted.
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