Erosion of lumbar vertebral bodies from a chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm

Abstract

Chronic contained rupture (CCR) of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is a rare occurrence. Erosion of the vertebral bodies in association with a CCR of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is rarer and creates a diagnostic dilemma. One needs to exclude fractures, neoplasms, osteoporosis, and infection as possible other causes. We describe a patient with a previous aortobilateral external iliac graft that was complicated by a pseudoaneurysm with a CCR at the proximal anastomosis of the graft associated with vertebral body erosion. Extra-anatomic bypass and removal of the previous aortobilateral external iliac graft was performed.