ABSTRACT
Syphilis was once the most common cause of aortic aneurysm. For the last 60 years syphilis has been well controlled in the UK population. However, we present the recent case of a 52-year-old female black South African immigrant who was found to have a syphilitic aneurysm.
Subject(s)
Aneurysm, Infected/diagnosis , Aorta, Thoracic/microbiology , Aortic Aneurysm/diagnosis , Syphilis, Cardiovascular/diagnosis , Aneurysm, Infected/drug therapy , Aneurysm, Infected/microbiology , Aortic Aneurysm/drug therapy , Aortic Aneurysm/microbiology , Female , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Angiography , Middle Aged , Penicillin G Benzathine/therapeutic use , Syphilis, Cardiovascular/complications , Syphilis, Cardiovascular/drug therapy , United KingdomABSTRACT
The simultaneous existence of thoracic aortic aneurysm and lung cancer is a rare finding, especially if the malignancy is primary and does not involve the aortic wall. In this report, we present a case of a typical descending thoracic aneurysm combined with a primary adenocarcinoma of the left lower lobe. The aneurysm was repaired with a Dacron graft without use of extra corporeal circulation and a typical left lower lobectomy was performed. In such cases, aneurysms should be treated primarily with endovascular stents. However, if this is not possible, a combined operation can be performed with good outcome.
