Hemoptysis Associated With Rasmussen Aneurysm

Hemoptysis involves compromised pulmonary vasculature of bronchial versus pulmonary arterial origins, with both life-threatening and non-life-threatening causes. Life-threatening hemoptysis is uncommon. To date, published cases of Rasmussen aneurysm remain low and subsequently underrecognized. We report on a 63-year-old male from Mexico with a more than 30-pack-year smoking history, but no history of lung disease, who presented to the emergency department with cough and hemoptysis for one week. A computed tomography angiography (CTA) chest demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm and hemorrhage, consistent with a Rasmussen aneurysm. Interventional radiology performed a pulmonary angiography, and subsequent coil embolization of the tertiary feeding arteries was performed. This case demonstrates a rare pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm, known simply as Rasmussen aneurysm, that was successfully managed with coil embolization and highlights the importance of considering the disease in the differential diagnosis for patients with hemoptysis.