A CORTICOSTEROID-RESPONSIVE INFLAMMATORY ABDOMINAL AORTIC-ANEURYSM DEVELOPING FROM AN ATHEROSCLEROTIC ANEURYSM - A CASE-REPORT

An uncomplicated atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm in a sevent y-one-year-old woman was found to have increased substantially in size . Abdominal computed tomography (CT) demonstrated an abdominal aortic aneurysm with a thick mantle of material having the density of soft ti ssue abutting its anterior and lateral walls and hydronephrosis of the right kidney due to an encased ureter. Low-dose corticosteroid therap y was given for forty days. On subsequent CT scanning, most of the thi ck soft-tissue mass surrounding the dilatated aorta and the hydronephr osis had disappeared, which simplified the surgical repair that was th en performed. Pathologic examination of the mass showed inflammatory t issue.