Iatrogenic fatal outcome of traumatic axillary aneurysm

Five months after dislocation of the left shoulder a 66-year-old patient noted a swelling in the left axilla. After CT-scan a malignant tumour was suspected and an incisional biopsy was performed. A week later the patient died due to hemorrhaging from the biopsy wound. The autopsy revealed a false aneurysm of the axillary artery. The incision had damaged the external wall of the aneurysm leading to consecutive rupture. Post-mortem findings are presented.