[Segmental mediolytic arteriopathy (SMA) of central, visceral and peripheral vessels].
METHODS
A 27-year-old man had been admitted to hospital with acute neurological defects involving his legs and urinary system. An intervertebral disk was removed surgically, because a herniation had been suspected. But symptoms increased postoperatively. Further imaging showed a ruptured aneurysm of the internal iliac artery which was treated with coil embolization.


METHODS
Further diagnostic tests excluded hematological, rheumatic and endocrinological causes for the development of the aneurysm. Genetic differentiation was normal. Imaging then demonstrated "string of beads" small aneurysms of intra- and extracerebral, renal, visceral and peripheral arteries.


METHODS
During the past three years the patient had repeated ruptures of the intra-abdominal arterial aneurysms for which coil embolization and bypass grafting were performed, also to prevent further ruptures.


CONCLUSIONS
Segmental mediolytic arteriopathy is a rare condition requiring careful imaging and histological tests for its diagnosis and acute surgical treatment.
Schönefeld
E
E
CVEC Centrum für Vaskuläre und Endovaskuläre Chirurgie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster und Abteilung für Gefässchirurgie des St-Franziskushospitals Münster, Münster. Eva.Schoenefeld@ukmuenster.de
Völker
W
W
Torsello
G
G
D000328:Adult; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000792:Angiography; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002539:Cerebral Arterial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000473:pathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000473:pathology; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology