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Case report: legionella infected thoracic aortic graft

R Tello1, T Hill, G Hartnell

  • 1Department of Radiology, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MA 02215.

Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics : the Official Journal of the Computerized Medical Imaging Society
|January 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

This case study details a rare Legionella infection in a Marfan syndrome patient with a thoracic aortic graft. It highlights diagnostic imaging and discusses management strategies for such complex infections.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Marfan syndrome predisposes individuals to aortic complications, including the need for thoracic aortic grafts.
  • Graft infections are serious complications requiring prompt diagnosis and management.
  • Legionella species are uncommon but significant pathogens in prosthetic graft infections.

Observation:

  • A patient with Marfan syndrome and a history of thoracic aortic graft developed a Legionella infection.
  • Clinical presentation and diagnostic workup are detailed.
  • Infection involved the aortic graft necessitating specific diagnostic approaches.

Findings:

  • The study presents a comprehensive examination of the infected graft using multiple imaging modalities.
  • Aortography, gallium scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and spiral volumetric computed tomography (CT) were employed.
  • Pathogenesis of graft infection in this specific context is explored.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering unusual pathogens like Legionella in graft infections.
  • Effective diagnostic imaging is crucial for identifying and characterizing thoracic aortic graft infections.
  • Understanding the pathophysiology aids in developing targeted management strategies for these challenging cases.

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