Incidental finding of undiagnosed aortic coarctation in an elderly patient with a rare association with thymic carcinoma: a case report with review of the literature

Manar Ezzahi, MD; Ayman Bijbij, MD; Amal Akammar, MD; Nizar El Bouardi, MD; Meriem Haloua, MD; Moulay Youssef Alaoui Lamrani, MD; Meryem Boubbou, MD; Mustapha Maaroufi, MD; Badreeddine Alami, MD

Radiology Case Reports (Sep 2023)

Incidental finding of undiagnosed aortic coarctation in an elderly patient with a rare association with thymic carcinoma: a case report with review of the literature

Manar Ezzahi, MD,
Ayman Bijbij, MD,
Amal Akammar, MD,
Nizar El Bouardi, MD,
Meriem Haloua, MD,
Moulay Youssef Alaoui Lamrani, MD,
Meryem Boubbou, MD,
Mustapha Maaroufi, MD,
Badreeddine Alami, MD

Affiliations

Manar Ezzahi, MD: Corresponding author.; Department of Radiology and Interventional Imaging, CHU Hassan II Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
Ayman Bijbij, MD: Department of Radiology and Interventional Imaging, CHU Hassan II Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
Amal Akammar, MD: Department of Radiology and Interventional Imaging, CHU Hassan II Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
Nizar El Bouardi, MD: Department of Radiology and Interventional Imaging, CHU Hassan II Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
Meriem Haloua, MD: Department of Radiology and Interventional Imaging, CHU Hassan II Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
Moulay Youssef Alaoui Lamrani, MD: Department of Radiology and Interventional Imaging, CHU Hassan II Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
Meryem Boubbou, MD: Department of Radiology and Interventional Imaging, CHU Hassan II Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
Mustapha Maaroufi, MD: Department of Radiology and Interventional Imaging, CHU Hassan II Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco
Badreeddine Alami, MD: Department of Radiology and Interventional Imaging, CHU Hassan II Fez, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 18, no. 9
pp. 3317 – 3322

Abstract

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Aortic coarctation is a congenital malformation that is relatively prevalent, occurring in approximately 5 out of every 1000 births. The narrowing typically happens at the aortic isthmus between the left subclavian artery and the arterial ligament. It is frequently associated with a bicuspid aortic valve.Generally, coarctation of the aorta is identified and treated during childhood or early adulthood. If left untreated, this condition can lead to a reduced life expectancy in individuals who have not received treatment.We present a case of a 52-year-old man who complained of chest pain, sputum, and hemoptysis persisting for approximately 2 years. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans revealed the presence of an anterior mediastinal mass, which was later confirmed to be a thymic carcinoma (on histological study). Additionally, an incidental finding of a thoracic aortic coarctation with a well-developed collateral circulation was observed.The discovery of aortic coarctation in adult patients as an incidental finding is rare and particularly uncommon in association with mediastinal or thoracic tumor pathology.Adult and elderly patients with uncorrected coarctation generally have a low survival rate, and the management strategies for such cases are controversial, especially when it is associated to other pathologies.Due to the complexity of therapeutic management and the limited literature available on postsurgical outcomes in these cases, making therapeutic decisions requires a multidisciplinary approach and personalized consideration for each individual case. This approach is necessary to evaluate the risk-benefit ratio and determine the most suitable therapeutic solution.

Published in Radiology Case Reports

ISSN: 1930-0433 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/radiology-case-reports/

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