Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography leads to early diagnosis and prompt treatment of unruptured Rasmussen's aneurysm
Toyohisa Iriki*,a Eriko Morinoa Jin Takasakia Haruhito Sugiyamaa Nobuyuki Kobayashia
*Division of Respiratory Diseases, Kumamoto Regional Medical Center
aDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine
A 34-year-old man was referred to our hospital after a diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis with complaints of fever, cough, hemosputum, and right chest pain. Admission contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography revealed a Rasmussen's aneurysm. He was treated with antituberculous drugs for pulmonary tuberculosis. On the 13th hospital day, the aneurysm increased in size. He underwent successful coil embolization of the unruptured pulmonary artery aneurysm and its feeding vessel. A Rasmussen's aneurysm is a rare complication of pulmonary tuberculosis. As in this case, a history of hemosputum or hemoptysis in patients with cavitary tuberculosis suggests the possibility of Rasmussen's aneurysm. A contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography is a useful diagnostic tool for Rasmussen's aneurysm.
Rasmussen's aneurysm Pulmonary tuberculosis Hemoptysis Contrast-enhanced computed tomography Embolization
Received 24 Nov 2011 / Accepted 7 Feb 2012
AJRS, 1(5): 439-444, 2012