Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Murine Surgical Model of Topical Elastase Induced Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
Published on: August 24, 2019
Tuberculous esophagitis with erosion into aortic aneurysm
Abstract:
An 87-year-old woman with a known atherosclerotic thoracic aneurysm died suddenly from a massive esophageal hemorrhage. Prior to death, tuberculous esophagitis was diagnosed by biopsy. At autopsy, a fistulous tract was found extending from the esophagus to the aortic aneurysm; this fistula proved to be the site of fatal hemorrhage. The tract was surrounded by a granulomatous inflammatory reaction, in which acid-fast bacilli were found. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of tuberculous esophagitis extending to an aortic aneurysm resulting in hemorrhage and death.
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