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Review
. 2009;36(1):65-8.

Rupture of a nonaneurysmal abdominal aorta due to spondylitis

Hakan Posacioglu  1 , Fatih Islamoglu, Anil Z Apaydin, Nur Ozturk, Emrah Oguz
Affiliations
Review

Rupture of a nonaneurysmal abdominal aorta due to spondylitis

Hakan Posacioglu et al. Tex Heart Inst J. 2009.

Abstract

Contiguous arterial infections are extremely rare, and their actual rate of occurrence is not known. These infections occur as a result of direct invasion of an artery from an adjacent septic focus. Reaching the diagnosis of infected aorta is very difficult when there are contiguous infections from spondylitis or psoas abscess, because the clinical features are nonspecific. Although computed tomography is the most useful diagnostic tool in the detection of aortic infections, the most frequent findings mimic those of other diseases, such as retroperitoneal fibrosis, lymphoma, and periaortic lymphadenopathy. Diagnosis becomes even more challenging when an infected aorta is of normal diameter. Herein, we report the case of a 64-year-old man who experienced nonaneurysmal abdominal aortic rupture due to spondylitis and psoas abscess. Despite appropriate surgical management, the patient later died. We review the relevant medical literature and examine specific considerations that surround the diagnosis and treatment of this rare condition.

Keywords: Aneurysm, infected/diagnosis/etiology/radiography/surgery; aneurysm, ruptured/surgery; aortic aneurysm, abdominal/diagnosis/etiology/surgery; aortic rupture/microbiology/mortality/pathology/surgery; prognosis; spinal diseases/complications; staphylococcal infections/complications/surgery; time factors; treatment outcome.

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Figures

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Fig. 1 Magnetic resonance imaging (sagittal section) shows a psoas muscle abscess (star).
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Fig. 2 Magnetic resonance imaging shows a psoas muscle abscess (arrow), lumbar spondylitis (triangle), and a normal aorta (star).
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Fig. 3 Computed tomography shows a contained rupture of the nonaneurysmal aorta.
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Fig. 4 Computed tomography shows rupture of the nonaneurysmal aorta at the level of the aortic bifurcation, and extensive destruction of the corpus vertebrae.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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