Cryptococcal aortitis presenting as a ruptured mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysm

Mycotic processes occasionally complicate atherosclerotic aortic disease an d usually require aggressive surgical therapy to control sepsis and prevent arterial rupture. Rarely, fungal organisms are responsible for primary inf ection of the abdominal aorta. We report the first case of Cryptococcal aor titis presenting as a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, The surgical, pat hologic, and microbiologic aspects of fungal aortitis are discussed.