Dissecting aortic aneurysm manifested as fever of unknown origin

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Infectious Disease Mimicry

Background:

• Dissecting aneurysms of the ascending aorta are serious cardiovascular conditions.
• Fever of unknown origin (FUO) presents a diagnostic challenge, often requiring extensive investigation.

Observation:

• A patient presented with fever of unknown origin as the primary symptom.
• Classical signs of dissecting aortic aneurysm were initially overlooked due to the prominent fever.

Findings:

• Polymorphonuclear leukocytes were observed sequestered and disintegrating within the aortic hemagen.
• This finding suggests an inflammatory response associated with the aortic dissection.

Implications:

• Dissecting aortic aneurysms can manifest with protean clinical features, mimicking other conditions.
• Fever of unknown origin should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dissecting aortic aneurysms.