title: A rapidly expanding descending thoracic aortic aneurysm: an unusual complication.
abstract: The rate of enlargement of a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm is usually low, related to initial size and anatomical position. We report a case of an old, diabetic woman, with previous history of ischemic heart disease, admitted for a broncopneumia, in which a small descending thoracic aortic aneurysm was detected by a routine computed tomography (CT) scan. Because of the presence of comorbid condition, especially in the woman with an infectious respiratory disease, a closer follow-up by a 3-month CT scan was programmed. An impressive enlargement of the aneurysm, occurred in the next 2 months, caused patient's asphyxia and subsequent death. In patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm, mostly in females with comorbid condition, a closer CT scan control should be carried out, irrespective of the previous aneurysm size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Tommaso
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Oliviero
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iannelli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stassano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001996:Bronchopneumonia / Q000150:complications*; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000150:complications*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed