Segmental Takayasu (giant cell) aortitis with rupture and limited dissection

Takayasu arteritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the aorta and its main branches, with variable extents of involvement. Rarely is it sharply localized in an isolated segment of the aorta, and it seldom occurs in an elderly person. Clinically, Takayasu arteritis produces symptoms of vascular insufficiency, predominantly because of the occlusive disease and less commonly because of aneurysmal disease of the affected arteries. An unusual case of segmental Takayasu arteritis confined to the infrarenal abdominal aorta in an elderly woman is described, in which rupture and fatal hemoperitoneum were the initial manifestations of the disease.