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CC BY 4.0 · Aorta (Stamford) 2016; 04(04): 142-145
DOI: 10.12945/j.aorta.2016.16.022
Case Report
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Intimal Sarcoma of the Descending Aorta Mimicking Aortitis

Angela Pucci
1   Division of Pathology, University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
,
Andrea De Martino
2   Division of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
,
Maurizio Levantino
2   Division of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
,
Raffaella Berchiolli
3   Division of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
,
Fulvio Basolo
1   Division of Pathology, University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
,
Uberto Bortolotti
2   Division of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

03 May 2016

29 June 2016

Publication Date:
24 September 2018 (online)

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Abstract

We describe a 74-year-old male patient with an intimal sarcoma of the descending aorta mimicking aortitis. The patient presented with lower back pain, fever, and increased C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) serum levels, together with Staphylococcus epidermidis-positive blood cultures. These findings, together with evidence of a 49-mm pseudoaneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta, caused us to suspect aortitis. However, postoperative histology and immunohistochemistry demonstrated the presence of an intimal aortic sarcoma. At the 8-month follow-up, local recurrence of the neoplasm and lung metastases were noted.

Key Words

Aorta - Aortitis - Aortic tumor
 

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