Dysphagia due to thoracic aortic aneurysm, relieved by thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Thoracic aortic aneurysm is a rare clinical entity that is usually asymptomatic. Failure to treat this type of aneurysm can prove fatal. Here, the authors report a case of thoracic aortic aneurysm causing chronically worsening compressive symptoms including dysphagia. This was diagnosed following a suspicious chest radiograph, and confirmed with thoracic CT angiogram. These symptoms remitted over a period of months following thoracic endovascular repair of the aneurysm. Aneurysmal compression and deviation of the oesophagus is noticeably reduced following repair. This is one of few cases in the literature of a remittance of dysphagia following endovascular aneurysm repair, and highlights that rare causes of dysphagia ought not to be disregarded.

Figure 1

Axial section of thoracic CT angiogram demonstrating the large aneurysmal sac of the thoracic aorta compressing the oesophagus to the right.

Figure 2

Axial section of thoracic CT angiogram 7 months post thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair demonstrating a smaller aneurysmal sac, with noticeably less compression and deviation of the adjacent oesophagus.