[Mycotic aneurysm after catheterization of the umbilical artery]

The finding of an abdominal mass in an 18-month old infant ultimately led to the diagnosis of mycotic aneurysm of a common iliac artery. The lesion was resected and the vessel was ligated. The short and long-term outcome was favourable. The child had been operated upon for cervical teratoma and had undergone catheterization of the umbilical artery complicated with Staphylococcus aureus infection. The presence of a mycotic aneurysm must be suspected in infants with a history of umbilical artery catheterization or neonatal staphylococcal infection, or presenting with a posterior mediastinal or abdominal mass, or arterial hypertension. The vessel most commonly involved is the aorta. Surgical resection, when performed, results in cure. The present case is remarkable on three points: the lesion involved an iliac artery, the diagnosis was delayed and calcifications were present around the aneurysm.