TUBERCULOUS ANEURYSM OF THE ABDOMINAL AORTA

Abstract

Tuberculous aneurysm of the aorta is exceedingly uncommon. Twenty cases were collected by Gellerstedt and Safwenberg in 1933,1at which time they added 1 case of their own. In none of these 21 cases was the aneurysm due to a blood-borne infection, but it resulted from erosion of the aorta by a tuberculous process in an adjacent lymph node. In only 2 of these cases were tubercle bacilli found in the media of the aorta.2 This case report is presented as an instance of (1) a tuberculous aneurysm of the aorta which was not associated with adjacent caseous nodes and (2) an aneurysm in which acid-fast bacilli were demonstrated in the media of the vessel wall. History. —This was the first admission to Vanderbilt University Hospital of a 72 year old white housewife, who entered on Oct. 12, 1943, with the chief complaint of abdominal pain.