Vertebral mass resulting from a chronic-contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair graft

We describe a case of a 63-year-old man with chronic-contained rupture of a n abdominal aortic aneurysm at the site of prior graft repair of the aneury sm. Initially misinterpreted as osteomyelitis on the basis of CT findings, this chronic-contained rupture of the abdominal aorta eroding the vertebrae was preoperatively diagnosed at MR imaging and confirmed at surgery. A con ventional angiogram failed to show the pseudoaneurysm. Owing to a major dif ference in the management of a contained aortic aneurysm rupture versus tha t for osteomyelitis, MR imaging with CT or MR angiography is recommended be fore any operative or invasive procedure.