Mycotic Aneurysm of the Thoracoabdominal Aorta: A Diagnostic Challenge

Division

South Atlantic

Hospital

Orange Park Medical Center

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

6-24-2023

Keywords

aorta-aortic by pass, diagnostic delay, illicit fentanyl, intravenous drug use (ivdu), methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (mrsa), mycotic aneurysm of thorax-abdominal aorta, renal abscess, ruptured aneurysm

Disciplines

Bacterial Infections and Mycoses | Cardiovascular Diseases | Internal Medicine

Abstract

Mycotic aortic aneurysms (MAAs) are a rare form of aortic aneurysms that are associated with catastrophic outcomes if not diagnosed and treated on time. However, MAAs are a diagnostic challenge owing to their often nonspecific presentation. In this study, we present a case of a 42-year-old female with a pertinent history of intravenous drug use who presented with generalized body pain for two weeks and was found to have a mycotic thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) extensively involving adjacent structures, including lungs with pleural cavity and upper renal pole. Not only does this case highlight the difficulty in early diagnosis and complex pathology of a mycotic TAAA, but it also illustrates the multidisciplinary approach required to effectively treat them.

Publisher or Conference

Cureus

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