Radiology Case Reports (Dec 2021)
Pseudoaneurysm of the aortic root following aortic valve endocarditis - a case with 2 rare life - threatening complications
- Marcello Chiocchi, MD PhD,
- Francesca D'Errico, MD,
- Vincenzo De Stasio, MD,
- Federica Di Tosto, MD,
- Luca Pugliese, MD,
- Carlo Di Donna, MD,
- Luigi Spiritigliozzi, MD,
- Leonardo Benelli, MD,
- Salvatore Masala, MD PhD,
- Lucrezia Caterino, MD,
- Gianluca Vanni, MD PhD,
- Monia Pasqualetto, MD,
- Cecilia Cerimele, MD,
- Francesco Sbordone, MD,
- Francesco Grimaldi, MD,
- Matteo Cesareni, MD,
- Alessandra Luciano, MD,
- Mario Laudazi, MD,
- Carlotta Rellini, MD,
- Martina Cerocchi, MD,
- Paola Leomanni, MD,
- Roberto Floris, MD PhD,
- Francesco Garaci, MD PhD
Affiliations
- Marcello Chiocchi, MD PhD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Francesca D'Errico, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy; Corresponding author. F. D'Errico.
- Vincenzo De Stasio, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Federica Di Tosto, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Luca Pugliese, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Carlo Di Donna, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Luigi Spiritigliozzi, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Leonardo Benelli, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Salvatore Masala, MD PhD
- Department of Surgical Science, Policlinico Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
- Lucrezia Caterino, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy; Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy
- Gianluca Vanni, MD PhD
- Breast Unit, Department of Surgical Science, Policlinico Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
- Monia Pasqualetto, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Cecilia Cerimele, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Francesco Sbordone, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Francesco Grimaldi, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Matteo Cesareni, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Alessandra Luciano, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Mario Laudazi, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Carlotta Rellini, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Martina Cerocchi, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Paola Leomanni, MD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Roberto Floris, MD PhD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Francesco Garaci, MD PhD
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, University of Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome 00133, Italy
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 16,
no. 12
pp. 3703 – 3707
Abstract
Infective endocarditis can have peri-annular spread and involve the valvular annulus and adjacent cardiac structures, leading to tissue necrosis and peri-annular abscess. This process may cause pseudoaneurysm formation and other rare and potentially life-threatening complications, so their identification and correct diagnosis are crucial.We describe a case of an 81-year-old woman, with a history of aortic valve replacement and worsening of symptoms, that presents at the imaging a pseudoaneurysm of the aortic root complicated at the same time by 2 life-threatening conditions: fistulization in the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract (RVOT) and the compression of Right Coronary Artery (RCA).This case underlines the importance of imaging, especially Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA), in the diagnosis and follow-up of infective endocarditis and its complications, especially in a patient not eligible for surgery.
