Sealed rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms: CT features in 6 patients and a review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the CT features of sealed rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm.


METHODS
We reviewed the CT scans of six index cases obtained over a 3 year period with a sealed rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm and those reported in the literature over a 21 year period. CT scans were reviewed for aneurysm size, the presence of a draped aorta and adjacent vertebral erosion. A group of consecutive patients with non-ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, referred for endovascular aneurysm repair during the same 3 year period constituted the control group.


RESULTS
In the study group of 31 patients the mean size of the aneurysm was 6.24 +/- 2.01 cm, compared to 6.01 +/- 0.99 cm in the control group, without statistically significant difference (t = 0.75, df = 97, P = 0.46). A draped aorta was detected in all patients with a sealed rupture. Vertebral erosion was present in all our six, but mentioned in only 14 of the cases reported.


CONCLUSIONS
A sealed rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm can occur in relatively small aneurysms. A draped aorta and adjacent vertebral erosion are characteristic CT signs of such a rupture.
Apter
S
S
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sheba Medical Center (Affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University), Tel-Hashomer, Israel. apter@post.tau.ac.il
Rimon
U
U
Konen
E
E
Erlich
Z
Z
Guranda
L
L
Amitai
M
M
Portnoy
O
O
Gayer
G
G
Hertz
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed