Ductus diverticulum: differential diagnosis with traumatic aortic disruption.

We report the case of a 31-year-old patient with a chest trauma after a mou ntaineering accident. Contrast enhanced spiral computed tomography of the t horax showed a lesion of the aortic isthmus, suspected of being an aortic d isruption, As the diagnosis of aortic rupture could not be formally establi shed with computed tomography, a transoesophageal echocardiography and an a ortic angiography were performed which showed a ductus diverticulum, repres enting one of the differential diagnoses of traumatic aortic disruption. A knowledge of this entity and its diagnostic criteria may avoid an unnecessa ry thoracotomy. (C) 1999 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.