Periaortic lymphoma mimicking aortic aneurysm

Abstract

A 70-year man, with chest pain history, was referred for thoracic aortic aneurysm diagnosed by CT scan. A CT scan (Fig. 1a) was repeated for stent-graft selection, completed by MR due to diagnosis doubt (Fig. 1b). (a) and (b) Chest CT scan (top) and MR (bottom) showed a voluminous low density and heterogeneous area extending from the left subclavian artery to the middle of the descending thoracic aorta and posteriorly to the spine and esophagus. After contrast medium administration, a late enhancement of the peri-aortic signal intensity was detected with infiltration of the process in the spine causing medullar compression. Radiological findings were consistent with a peri-aortic tumor and revealed a groin mass, whose histology was non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Chemotherapy was effective (Fig. 2) . CT scan performed after chemotherapy showed a reduction of the peri-aortic process size.