Sealed rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm imitating metastatic carcinoma

We report the case of a 53-year-old man in whom rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm associated with a large retroperitoneal hematoma caused pressure erosion and destruction of lumbar vertebrae. The bone destruction was thought to represent metastasis from a bronchogenic carcinoma. Only after 18 months of gradual clinical deterioration with presumed metastatic cancer to the lumbar spine was the true nature of his disease recognized. After the ruptured aortic aneurysm was repaired, rapid recovery occurred and the retroperitoneal hematoma gradually was resorbed.