[Aneurysms of the infrarenal aorta and visceral cancer. Therapeutic problems]

The association of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and a long-standing or progressing cancer is a frequent finding: 14 cases among the 112 infrarenal aortic aneurysms treated by one of us (J.C.) are discussed in this report. The marked predominance in bronchial and ORL epithelioma (50%) is explained by the common pathogenic factors of these neoplasms and atheroma. Surgical treatment is difficult because of the potentially lethal character of the two lesions: it must allow for size and possible progressive nature of aneurysm and prognosis of the neoplasm as defined by the TNM classification. Detection of an AAA in a patient with a history of neoplasm means that the opportunity for aortic surgery is dependent of therapeutic control (or otherwise) of the neoplastic disease and therefore frequently the length of follow up period after therapy. When detection of the AAA and neoplasm is simultaneous, the aneurysm progressing or ruptured, surgical complications leave little choice with regard to operative strategy. In 3 cases, simultaneous treatment of an AAA and a neoplasm was possible, particularly in the case of Grawitz tumors of cortical development without pyelocaliceal invasion. In most patients, separate operative stages are necessary in order to ensure asepsis of AAA surgery. Aneurysmal occlusion with an extrafocal shunt can allow one-stage surgery when aneurysm and neoplasm are equally menacing.