[Erdheim's disease as a cause of sudden death]

Morphologic findings in three cases are presented. Death was caused by Erdheim's disease which was complicated by rupture of a false aneurysm of the ascending part of the aorta. A typical dystrophic involvement of the aortic wall at late stages of the disease is shown to be associated with a manifest inflammatory process presenting as nonspecific aortoarteritis. To verify the diagnosis, histologic examination of the aortic wall at some distance from the site of rupture should be performed.