Acute aortic syndrome--penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer with contained rupture managed by endovascular stent-grafting.

We present the case of a hypertensive male who came with acute onset of severe backache and hypotension. Emergency imaging revealed a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of descending thoracic aorta with contained rupture and bilateral hemothorax. Initially stabilised with medical management, this patient went on to undergo endovascular stent-grafting. The sequence of clinical events of this uncommon entity and the relatively novel interventional modality are reviewed.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in a young postpartal female.

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder of the kidney characterised by an infectious phlegmon arising in the renal parenchyma. It is seen in patients who have urolithiasis, urinary tract infection and immunocompromised status. The clinical presentation is variable and renal neoplasm is considered as a differential due to its characteristic extrarenal visceral invasion. The treatment is almost universally extirpative and can pose a formidable challenge to the treating physician and surgeon. The authors report a rare case of XGP in a postpartal woman who presented with multiple visceral abscesses whose diagnosis was arrived on histopathological examination.