Renal artery aneurysm presenting as a chest mass

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Renal artery aneurysms are rare vascular abnormalities.
• False aneurysms can arise from trauma or iatrogenic injury.
• Chest masses typically warrant investigation for pulmonary or mediastinal pathology.

Observation:

• A 25-year-old woman presented with an enlarging right chest mass.
• Extensive workup, including arteriography, failed to establish a preoperative diagnosis.
• Surgical exploration revealed a false aneurysm of the renal artery.

Findings:

• The renal artery false aneurysm was successfully resected via posterolateral thoracotomy.
• Vascular reconstruction was not feasible in this case.
• The aneurysm was an unexpected finding, mimicking a primary chest lesion.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering visceral artery aneurysms in the differential diagnosis of chest masses.
• Incisional biopsy of undiagnosed masses carries a significant risk of precipitating rupture in vascular lesions.
• Accurate preoperative diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management of renal artery aneurysms.