CT DIAGNOSIS OF INFLAMMATORY ABDOMINAL AN EURYSMS

Amongst 1599 patients undergoing surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm , there were 89 patients (5,6%) who showed typical features of inflamm atory aneurysms of the abdominal aorta (IAAA). 37 of the 89 patients h ad been examined preoperatively by CT. In 73% of the cases (27/37) a c orrect diagnosis had been made. Localisation, width and extent of the IAAA was correctly diagnosed in all patients. Involvement of the renal arteries by the inflammatory process, the extent of thrombus and of m ural calcification were accurately shown. The inflammatory tissues wer e typically ventral and lateral to the aorta. Frequently, there were a dhesions to neighbouring structures. Aortic rupture, aortic dissection and retroperitoneal lymphoma may produce similar CT appearances; neve rtheless, CT remains at present the method of choice for the diagnosis of IAAA because of its high sensitivity.