Tuberculous Aortic Pseudoaneurysm: An Unexpected Encounter with an Old Acquaintance.

Introduction: (MT) is a rare cause of mycotic aneurysms. Diagnosis and management of tuberculous arterial infection is challenging. A case of a patient diagnosed and successfully treated for an aortic pseudoaneurysm caused by MT infection is reported.

Report: An 83 year old man was admitted with recurrent back pain over five months associated with constitutional symptoms. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed a psoas collection associated with terminal aorta and proximal left common iliac artery posterolateral wall ulceration. Percutaneous drainage was performed and both the acid fast bacillus test and the molecular test for MT DNA were positive. The patient started on anti-tuberculous treatment, showing an excellent response. Three month CTA revealed arterial ulceration stability. However, the six month CTA revealed evolution to an asymptomatic 40 mm pseudoaneurysm. He was submitted to open repair with an aorto-bi-iliac interposition silver acetate/triclosan collagen coated polyester graft. The post-operative course was uneventful.

Discussion: Increased awareness and pursuit of an histological and microbiological diagnosis along with close surveillance allow anticipation of complications that can develop without any warning symptoms, as reported in this case. Agent identification and a combination of prolonged anti-tuberculous drug therapy with extensive excision of the infected field along with aortic reconstruction contributed to a good outcome.