[Unusual posture-dependent backache as leading symptom of a thoracic aortic aneurysm]

The clinical investigation of a 71 year old male patient, suffering from chronic recurrent back pain, shows an unusual, position-dependent symptomatology of the pain. A penetrating, inoperable aneurysm of the thoracic aorta can be proved to be responsible for the patients complaints and causing his death in the course. Regarding the findings of the clinical investigation and the computed tomography as well as the postmortal findings, the pain-causing mechanisms are discussed.