Tuberculous aortoarteritis

Tuberculous aortoarteritis is a distinct entity. Despite the still wide prevalence of active tuberculosis in developing countries, tuberculous aortoarteritis appears to be rare. The vessel is often involved by a direct extension of the disease from adjacent tuberculous tissue. Occasionally it may result from blood-borne seedlings from an active distant focus. True and false aneurysms are the common manifestations. Stenosing and/or constricting types of lesions and perivascular fibrosis have been encountered by us. The probable pathogenesis is discussed with illustrative cases.