Rupture of thoracic aortic aneurysm into the lung with formation of pseudoaneurysm: diagnosis and treatment

Three patients with rupture of thoracic aortic aneurysm into the lung with formation of pseudoaneurysm were admitted to our hospital in 1991, of whom, 2 had ascending aortic aneurysms which ruptured into the right upper pulmonary lobe, and another one had descending aortic aneurysm rupturing into the left upper lobe. All 3 cases were misdiagnosed as having pulmonary carcinoma or mediastinal tumor by the other hospital as well as by us. Correct diagnosis was made by aortography or at exploratory thoracotomy. Our preliminary experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease are presented in this paper.